'People are upset' - Tragedy as deer killed near controversial 99-home Poulton-le-Fylde housing development

Campaigners against a proposed large scale housing development on a greenspace site in Carleton have been saddened by the death of one of the deer they were trying to protect.

The deer and one of its companions had wondered onto Blackpool Road on Bank Holiday Monday and sadly it came into collision with a car and was killed. It is understood there was also damage to the car but no one in the vehicle was seriously hurt.

For some people, the herd of deer have come to represent the fight to protect the farmland from nearly 100 homes that are being proposed for the site off Blackpool Road.

Hundreds of new houses have already been built nearby and residents say there is insufficient infrastructure to cope with more homes, in terms of traffic, and schools, GP and dental vacancies.

An outline application for residential development of up to 99 dwellings and associated open space, landscaping and infrastructure has been lodged with planners at Wyre on behalf of applicants Blackpool Council.

The proposals are part of Blackpool’s masterplan to provide much-needed housing for the borough, but protesters says that Carleton and Poulton are already being overdeveloped.

The site is located off The Lane, bounded by Blackpool Road and Blackpool Old Road and to the east of Carleton Crematorium.

Resident Lynne Kennedy, who lives close to the proposed site, said: “It was a real shame the deer was killed, people have been upset.

“There are many reasons people are opposed to these plans. Carleton and Poulton are being over-developed, we just don’t have the infrastructure for another 100 homes.”

Another campaigner Catherine Carter said: “We are all deeply upset about this. Personally I hope Wyre Council and Blackpool Council now have enough evidence to realise exactly why there’s over 800 objections to the online application to build on a very small green space which is inhabited already by wildlife.”

A planning statement in support of the application says: “The scale of development proposed is in keeping with the scale and function of Poulton-le-Fylde as one of the main towns in the district and there is also no reason why a high quality design could not be secured in line with relevant Development Plan policy.

“Ultimately, when the economic, social and environmental impacts are considered together, the proposals comprise sustainable development and there are no impacts which outweigh the aforementioned benefits.

“Moreover, the application complies with the relevant policies of the adopted Local Plan and as such, outline permission ought to be granted.”