Object
Local Plan 2015-2030 Preferred Options for Consultation
Representation ID: 1470
Received: 14/09/2013
Respondent: Mr Ivan Armstrong
1. We support the principle of development on the site but not the quantity of dwellings envisaged.
2. We do not believe flats are appropriate on the site.
3. If flats were approved for the site we think that nothing higher than first floor development is appropriate.
4. We trust that there would be no attempt to remove any of the trees or the raised land.
5. We are concerned about the traffic flows if anything like 100 dwellings were on the site.
6. The completion of Shenfield as the eastern end of Crossrail would increase traffic on Rayleigh Rd.
I wish to provide feedback on the plan as it relates to the Essex County Fire Headquarters on Rayleigh Rd.
1. We support the principle of development on the site but not the quantity of dwellings envisaged. No detailed assumptions are provided to show how the estimate of 100 dwellings is arrived at. We can only assume that flats rather than semi or detached houses as the site would not provide anything like 100 houses.
2. We do not believe flats are appropriate on the site. Virtually all of the surrounding area consists of semi - detached or detached houses and any development should be consistent with the character of housing in the area.
3. If flats were approved for the site we think that nothing higher than ground and first floor development is appropriate .Anything higher would spoil the character of the area and give any higher floors sight in to existing properties. Parking for 100 vehicles would further restrict the build space.
4. The plan included in the consultation shows shading to the boundaries of the site. However three sides of the site have many trees with TPO's and two sides of the site have raised land where the trees are sited. We trust that there would be no attempt to remove any of the trees or the raised land. Doing the latter might also risk the security of the boundaries of existing properties in The Spinney which are on the raised level . It would be helpful to know whether these issues have been taken into account in calculating the available land for development and the number of dwellings.
5. We are concerned about the traffic flows if anything like 100 dwellings were on the site. First, widening the access onto and from Rayleigh Rd is constrained by the TPO's and the existing entry might be insufficient for the number of cars involved plus delivery lorries. Secondly Rayleigh Rd is already very busy. Having 100 or more vehicles trying to enter the road at busy times would cause delays and potential accidents particularly if traffic is turning right out of or into the site. There are traffic lights on the road and a mini roundabout into Hanging Hill Lane close to the site which could not cope with this number of vehicles at busy times.The traffic lights are part of a four way set including The Spinney and the Bishops Hall estate. The mini roundabout provides access to Hanging Hill Lane which is already very busy at school time and now has the Tesco store increasing traffic problems.
6. The completion of Shenfield as the eastern end of Crossrail would already be increasing traffic volume on Rayleigh Rd . The proposed development would increase further the congestion on the road and the risk to pedestrians.