Ramillies Road Residents in Protest

"Massive" overdevelopment of bungalow site alleged

More than 50 residents of Ramillies Road, staged a protest on Saturday over a development company's plans to demolish a small bungalow and garage and build two large houses in their place. The houses would be on four floors and would have room for five or six bedrooms each, as well as two-storey garages in the back garden.

Neighbours stood quietly outside 72 Ramillies Road with placards saying "Please say NO to overdevelopment" and "Listen to your residents", as councillors on Ealing Council's planning committee visited the site. Planning officers have recommended that the scheme should be allowed. Residents say their objections have been ignored and claim the council's description of the houses as "two-storey" is misleading.

"This would be a massive overdevelopment of the site and entirely out of keeping with the rest of Ramillies Road" said Andy Johnston, who lives opposite the bungalow. "There would be at least 10 bedrooms, and possibly 12 - the bungalow has just three."

A similar proposal to replace a nearby bungalow in Ramillies Road with two semi-detached houses was turned down last year by planning officials. This was on the grounds of "overdevelopment, harm to the character and appearance of the locality; and loss of privacy". Neighbours say these objections apply even more strongly to the plans for the bungalow site at no. 72, and fear that approval of the scheme could set a precedent.

Richard Bak, who also lives opposite the bungalow, said: "The houses could add four, eight or even more cars to the road - where will they park? There is a double-yellow line outside, and an S bend, and there are already days when we can't find a space. And they won't park in the proposed garages at the back because they're too small and difficult to access."

The residents' case was put to councillors by Alyson Mitchell, who lives on one side of the bungalow. The proposal will be considered by the Planning Committee at 7pm on Wednesday evening at Ealing Town Hall. Torin Douglas, who lives on the other side, will speak on behalf of the neighbours, a number of whom plan to attend the meeting.

January 8, 2007