6:00am Monday 8th February 2010
By Mark Foster
REVAMPED plans to create a retirement village in the heart of North Yorkshire have outraged villagers.
A year after they won their first fight to stop the community being created on their doorstep, the battle lines are being drawn up again.
Landowners Nigel and Judy Bell, owners of the Shepherd’s Purse cheese company, have resubmitted proposals to build a 60-acre “continuing care retirement community” near Thornton-le-Moor, between Thirsk and Northallerton.
When first put forward last year, local people campaigned against the plan, Hambleton District Council planning officers recommended refusal and the scheme was withdrawn.
The original proposal, known as Thornton Fields, would have comprised 311 homes – apartments and cottages – home to 440 residents and 120 staff.
The revamped version, now known as Thornton Gate, is smaller and would see 150 residential units and associated parking, social, medical, fitness and other facilities within the grounds.
Thornton-le-Moor parish council has again voted to oppose the multi-million-pound project.
On Friday, more than 80 people attended a public meeting to discuss the plans.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Hambleton District councillor Bob Baker, member for the Thorntons.
Parish council chairman Ian Woods said: “There are fewer residential units this time, but the scheme is once again the equivalent of a new Thornton-le-Moor.
“We fought this scheme before and we are certainly going to fight it again.”
He criticised the lack of consultation with local people in preparation for the scheme.
However, the scheme’s agents, Carter Jonas, said that, because Thornton Gate was an evolution of the previous scheme which had been downscaled, it was felt public exhibitions were not necessary.
The parish council has requested a financial model for the scheme – the projected cost of the homes and other levels of charging.
But Carter Jonas says such details have still to be worked out.
“Detailed financial modelling will be one of the activities that will happen once the principle has been agreed,” said partner John Goodwin.
Comments on the scheme can be made to Hambleton District Council, but must be received by February 18.
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