A leading figure in a campaign against a massive housing plan for a small Ayrshire village has accused developers of potential planning breaches.
Harry Middleditch has alleged that house builder Persimmon breached planning conditions by allowing surface water to seep into the local sewerage system.
Persimmon are currently in the process of building new homes in Monkton after they got the go ahead by South Ayrshire Council in October 2019.
The firm was granted planning permission to build 286 houses – despite fears the village’s infrastructure couldn’t cope with the development.
And Mr Middleditch was a high-profile opponent of the plans.
Now he believes Persimmon could be breaching the rules.
Mr Middleditch said: “The housing development in Monkton is at a stage where the new tenants will soon be taking over their new homes.
“I campaigned against the houses as it is detrimental to the community and the infrastructure is not robust enough to support the number of houses being proposed.
“Part of the conditions were that all the surface water from the site would be piped to the Rumbling Burn at the bottom of Station Road, Monkton and that no surface water would enter the Monkton sewer system.
“I believe Persimmon have been releasing surface water into the sewer system, as their SUDS pond has not been completed.”
In the building industry, when rainfall lands on a surface, builders can employ sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) techniques to control run-off at, or close to, the source.
And Mr Middleditch believes that if surface water is going into the sewage system, then it’ll cause big problems for the Station Road end of the village, where excess sewage has caused problems in the past.
He continued: “I have reported this to my local South Ayrshire councillor on June 24, 2021 who wrote to the planning department highlighting this. Nothing appears to have been done.”
Mr Middleditch says Persimmon Homes have shown “little regard” for the residents of Monkton and they “appear to be ignoring” planning conditions laid down by South Ayrshire Council.
He added: “From the erection of the first Houses For Sale sign, the people of Monkton are of no concern to Persimmon.”
However, a council spokesperson said no breach of planning controls has been identified.
The spokesperson continued: “We are satisfied that the development is being undertaken in accordance with the planning permission granted to Persimmon Homes.
“We continue to be in regular contact with Persimmon Homes to ensure that the development is being developed appropriately.”
And a spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said they were working with the local planning authority to discharge the relevant planning conditions in “full accordance” with the permissions granted.
The spokesperson continued: “A short-term arrangement was agreed with the relevant authorities to enable early delivery of much needed new housing and drainage. Technical approval from Scottish Water has been received for the surface water connection to the Rumbling Burn.
“Persimmon Homes has been in dialogue with the planning authority and the Ayrshire Roads Alliance to ensure all its obligations are met.”
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