More than 100 residents attended the Scout Hut in Old Glossop to hear about three proposed developments which would see another 104 homes built in the village.

One of the proposals would convert a track, used by locals and visitors to walk into the Peak National Park, into a two-lane road.

An application by Butterworth Enterprises to build up to 56 homes on land east of Bute Street (next to Hawkshead Grange) was submitted back in 2019. A revised road access plan has been lodged and shows:

• A two-lane road sweeping round from Bute Street near to the entrance to Shire Hill Hospital onto Blackshaw Clough and dropping into the field

• The removal of the small wall and stone gatepost at the entrance to Blackshaw Clough to widen the road - and also part of the adjoining garden area

• Taking some of the land from the field on Bute Street where there are plans to build 7 houses.

People have until Friday 19th January to submit comments to High Peak Council, quoting planning reference HPK/2019/0215.

Janet Bingham, Secretary of Old Glossop Residents’ Association told the meeting that the Shire Hill Hospital site has outline planning permission and will definitely be built on. Cube Homes have submitted detailed plans for 41 homes.

“Building a further 56 homes on the big field below Bute Street and 7 homes on the field on Bute Street so close to the Shire Hill Hospital site would increase traffic way in excess of that when the hospital was open.

Residents expressed concern about the road widening plans for Blackshaw Clough, particularly the safety of locals and the many visitors that use the track to go walking. “Many of us walk up there most days,” said one. “The walk round the side of Shire Hill Hospital and up past Swineshaw Reservoir is very popular. And visitors come from miles around to walk into the Peak District National Park.”

Another added: “On-road parking would reduce and local roads would get clogged up. Parking is such a big problem in the village that the 390 bus often struggles toget through.”

One resident said: “These developments would completely change the character of Old Glossop if approved and turn it into one big housing estate.”

Views put forward included:

• The homes to be built on the Shire Hill Hospital site will be more than allocated for the area on the Local Plan. Any further homes in the area would be overdevelopment

• Brownfield sites should take priority for housing over greenfield sites

• Old Glossop roads already struggle to cope with traffic volumes

• Local services – schools, GPs and dentists – would be further stretched

• The field below Bute Street is a soakaway preventing flooding in Old Glossop and further downstream – building on it would increase the flood risk

• The field is also a haven for nature and a wildlife corridor between the countryside and Manor Park – with bats, barn owl, hedgehogs and swifts.