CAMPAIGNERS against a controversial proposed housing development in Bewdley face a wait to see if the plan will finally be thrown out.

Government planning inspector Matthew Nunn held an eight-day inquiry to hear land speculator Gladman Development’s appeal against Wyre Forest District Council’s decision to turn down an application to build 195 houses on land off The Lakes Road.

During the inquiry, Mr Nunn heard detailed evidence from barristers representing both the authority and Gladman, as well as members of the Bewdley Says No To Gladman (BSNTG) group which was set up to fight the plans when they emerged in August last year.

Mr Nunn will now consider the evidence and it is understood it could take months before the final decision is made.

The council argued the site in question was not in its adopted local plan and that social and economic benefits of such a scheme were far outweighed by the harm caused.

But Gladman said they had addressed issues such as impact on air quality in the highly polluted Welch Gate and the effect it would have on the conservation area. They added their scheme would address acute affordable housing needs in the district.

Rod Stancyzszyn, chairman of the BSNTG group, said: “We are satisfied that the public enquiry was well conducted.

“From the start the planning inspector was prepared to listen to our statements in full and he, very fairly, allowed residents to question the witnesses who had been called by Gladman’s barrister.

“However, despite the evidence presented in regard to the air quality management area in Welch Gate and to the inevitable increase in traffic in general, we remain unconvinced by the mitigation proposals advanced by Gladman.

“After the closing statements were made on the final sitting day, the inspector sincerely thanked us for our civilised attitude to the process and this was echoed by counsel on both sides.

“We were also extremely pleased that so many Bewdley people attended and gave their support throughout the eight days of the unusually long inquiry.

“We were told that we would receive the inspector’s decision in due course.”