A PACKED house came to hear what a Barratt Homes representative had to say about a 130 house development in the middle of Croxley Green which will eat up much-loved playing fields.

Around 150 residents packed into the classroom at Yorke Mead primary school, Dulwich Way, Croxley Green, to air their opinions about a planning application for the grounds and house at Durrants.

During heated exchanges, ward councillors were accused of failing to back the residents who had elected them and hinted at underhand dealings between Barratt and trustees of the proposed development site in Lincoln Drive, Croxley Green.

The planning application is being held back while an appeal is heard about plans to relocate the playing fields to the trustees site in Old Merchant Taylors' School, Sandy Lodge Lane, Moor Park.

If the appeal is successful and Barratt receive permission to build at Durrants, they expect to start in two years time.

But residents, who formed OMTSAG Old Merchant Taylors' Site Action Group to fight the proposals, warned of the pressure a population increase would put on schools, doctors and traffic.

Chairman of OMTSAG Mr Oliver Hammond asked the councillors to "nail their colours to the mast" and back the residents.

But district and parish councillor Phil Brading said it was not that simple as expressing personal views could prejudice himself at the planning committee he is a member of.

Mr Hammond also suggested Barratt had inside influence in sealing the deal for the site as one of its planning consultants was an OMT trustee.

Technical director for Barratt North London Mr Phil Jones asked Mr Hammond to withdraw the "slanderous remark".

He said: "That is not true, Mr Evans worked for OMT. They were nothing to do with us."

He added: "We were one of the many companies that tendered."

It was decided a representative from the trustees should be invited to a future meeting, although no date was set.

June 13, 2002 16:00