Give us some space

PARK LIFE: Derker resident Samantha Scoltock does not want Afghan Park to be reduced in size

A long-awaited regeneration of Derker could be given the green light in a matter of days — but residents say they don’t want it.

After years of looking out over empty streets, locals living close to London Road say they don’t like the prospect of the open space in front of their homes being filled with 165 homes. Local resident Samantha Scoltock is concerned part of nearby Afghan Park will be lost if planning permission is granted.

She said: “Some of it will be lost during the building. We don’t want to lose any of our greenery, but especially not where there are trees. I appreciate there’s a shortage of houses — but why can’t they just leave the park untouched?”

Samantha is hoping neighbours, some of whom already back her opposition, will rally together to oppose the move.

The proposals, set to go before council planners on Wednesday, will provide 123 private homes and 42 “social” homes. The area has stood empty since 2004, homes being demolished to make way for area regeneration that never came.

At the time local blasted the “wasteland” that had been created - but now say the buildng plan is too late.

Pne resident said: “If they had built on the land straight away it wouldn’t have bothered anybody. But now we’ve got used to the openness and we don’t want to see it go.”






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