FOLLOWING the council meeting, which I attended with many residents from School Lane and surrounding area on Wednesday, August 23, I am writing to protest in the strongest terms at the proposed erection of 17 three-storey properties on the infant school site in School Lane, Longton.

When Redrow applied to erect eight detached houses in December, 1996, there was little if any opposition to the proposal.

Redrow then submitted a plan in July, 1999, for two sites showing seven properties on the infant school site, and 61 on another site, and in April 2000 outline planning permission was granted for this.

But here comes the crux of this proposal.

The goal posts, so to speak, were moved, when to our horror we found the plans had been changed to 17 three-storey properties making a total of 78 properties in all.

Not just this, but access to all of these properties is via School Lane, which has more than its fair share of traffic problems, particularly with a road that is only 18ft 5ins wide and a pavement that is only 6ft 3ins.

The proposal will not only cause horrendous traffic problems, but is totally out of character with surrounding properties.

I therefore submit that these recent proposals be rejected outright, and put with the rubbish collection where they belong. Put people first before profits.

Mr T Howard, School Lane, Longton.