A COUNCILLOR has urged residents to monitor preparatory work ahead of plans to build on Deer Park.

The scheme to build more than 70 homes on a controversial site in Carlisle has been rumbling on for more than a year, and now a passionate councillor is warning residents to keep an eye on on the area.

The proposed £7.5m housing development at Deer Park has been the subject of controversy since plans were submitted to the city council.

An application for the erection of 80 homes on this site was refused by the council’s Development Control Committee in December, 2020.

However, Gleeson Homes lodged an appeal against the refusal and also applied for an award of costs against the city council. This was granted on June 24.

Green Party city councillor Helen Davison said: “Please keep an eye out for any Gleesons action on Deer Park field and report it if you see it.

“They have plans to start translocating the orchids next week. They cannot do this at the moment as they have not gone through due process to enable this.

“Firstly, the temporary footpath closure order on the field doesn’t come into effect until November 1.

“The work to translocate the orchids goes over the footpath.

“So if you do see anyone doing anything there, please contact the countryside access team as soon as possible as they can come and enforce this. Call 01228 226558 or email countryside.access@cumbria.gov.uk

“Secondly, before they can start any such work, they need to have a method statement for the relocation of the orchids agreed in writing by our planning department.

“The document had not even been sent to the planning department in order for it to be scrutinised and signed off.

“I have been speaking to various council officers to get this information.”

A spokesman for Gleeson said: “We have been working closely with the City Council and Cumbria County Council to make sure everything we do on site is done so correctly.

"We will translocate the orchid grass once we have had formal permission to do so from Carlisle City Council.

"We will not do any works that would interfere with the Public Right of Way before a temporary footpath closure order come into effect.”