Last-ditch plea to stop Parkeston housing development near refinery (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)

Last-ditch plea to stop Parkeston housing development near refinery

6:00pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News

A LAST-DITCH plea has been made to stop a controversial housing development near an oil refinery.

Tendring Council’s Planning Committee was expected to grant outline planning permission for the design and layout of 30 homes on land behind Una Road and Edward Street, Parkeston when it met on Thursday night.

The recommendation for approval is subject to no objections from the Environmental Agency or Essex County Council Highways.

But concerns over the plans, by Martin Simon Properties Ltd, have been raised because of its close proximity to the Petrochem Carless Oil Refinery, claims of poor access and fears over damage to wildlife.

John Tipple of the Parkeston Environmental Group blasted officials accusing them of greed and cowardice over the development.

He said: “An accident at the plant could kill people who lives within a certain distance.

“My concern is that there is a real potential to have a catastrophe.

“This is not nimbyism this is greed from the property developers and cowardice of the councillors.”

But according to the development’s design and access statement, the proximity of the development to the Carless refinery has been taken into account.