A MAN was arrested for aggravated trespass after entering a building site to protest against changes to the Stonebridge Park redevelopment.
Robert Whyman, 66, is so strongly opposed to the changes that he sat down on a road in an attempt to stop contractors taking materials in.
He was cautioned by police.
Mr Whyman, of Lytton Close, said: "I was just sticking up for my rights."
He previously gathered 159 signatures for a petition against a house being built just ten feet away from own home. He also objects to a new road being built as an extension of nearby Eastham Close.
The house and road do not appear on a masterplan for Stonebridge Park which Mr Whyman had previously seen, and which was published by the Post in 2006.
Mr Whyman started his protest at around 7.30am on Wednesday, the day he had a meeting with Nottingham City Council.
"I just walked in and sat there on the road. Then the police came at about nine o'clock. I said 'you might as well arrest me as I'm going to come back'," he said.
Mr Whyman said he was held in custody from about 9.15am to 12.30pm. He will now officially complain to the council and, if necessary, to the Local Government Ombudsman.
Nottingham City Council says changes were made to the original masterplan in consultation with residents. The council also insists one of its officers discussed the new plan with Mr Whyman outside his home last summer. But Mr Whyman denies this.
Other residents – including three on Eastham Close – and Richard Pearson, who runs a blog about the regeneration of Stonebridge Park, were also unaware of the changes.
Mr Whyman claims that the council and Leicester Housing Association are trying to cram as many houses in as possible.
A council spokesperson said: "The 2006-7 masterplan has been modified over the past four years in response to comments and requests by local residents and the resident-led Stonebridge Park Project Board."
The plan won planning permission in September 2009.
"The planning process allowed anyone with an interest in the project to air their views and raise objections, and we are fully aware of Mr Wyman's concerns."
A public meeting is set for 7pm on Wednesday at Stonebridge City Farm.
Notts Police confirmed that a 66-year-old man was cautioned for aggravated trespass.
 |  |
Snowboarding Gabriel Agbonlahor Labour Local politics Pakistan cricket betting scandal City breaks
No comments:
Post a Comment