Object
Preferred Site Allocations 2018
Representation ID: 18021
Received: 11/03/2018
Respondent: Mr Anthony Cross
The proposed development would be in direct contravention to the Council's stated objectives of safeguarding the greenbelt, protecting and enhancing valuable landscapes and natural and historic environments.
There would be an adverse impact on local: Green Belt; traffic volumes/noise; congestion/parking; drainage; wildlife; wellbeing/health of Borough residents. It would result in the loss of agriculturally viable land and green space vital to the maintenance of the village's unique character/charm. It would increase the risk of flooding and to the lives of rural road users. There are inadequate amenities/services to support new residents. Redrose Lane is too narrow for safe use.
The proposed development site is inappropriate for the following reasons:
1. The adverse impact it would have on the Green Belt. All the benefits that the Green Belt provides and the very reasons it was created are being blatantly, scandalously and negligently ignored by including this proposed site in the Borough's Local Plan.
2. The increased risk of conservation area flooding, due to surface water run-off that would result from any development on this area of natural drainage.
3. Redrose Lane is too narrow to support the increased traffic that would result from any development of the proposed site. It would put at risk the lives of walkers, runners, cyclists and horse-riders who make regular use of this quiet country lane, as well as other car users who use it to avoid the already congested village centre.
4. There are inadequate amenities and services in the village to support the additional residents that would populate the proposed site. The village school and local doctors surgery are already over-subscribed.
5. The proposed site forms part of the green space in and around the village, which is key to its unique rural character and charm, making it attractive to residents and visitors alike and contributing to the wellbeing and health of the Borough's residents.
6. The proposed development would be in direct contravention to the Council's stated objectives of safeguarding the Green Belt, protecting and enhancing valuable landscapes and natural and historic environments.
7. The proposed development fails to acknowledge the increased traffic through, parking problems in, and pressure on services in, Blackmore, already resulting from the recently completed housing development on the village boundary in Nine Ashes and the development approved and being built on the site of the former Norton Heath Equestrian Centre.
8. Traffic noise is already too high for those houses built in close proximity to the village roads. And the lives of recreational users of the roads around Blackmore would be put further at risk. The proposed development would increase the number of cars using the roads to a level that is unacceptable and inappropriate for a rural village.
9. The village is already suffering from poor road conditions, crumbling pavements, littering and dangerous corrosion and condition of road signs. The proposed development would increase the demands on this infrastructure, resulting in additional cost burdens when there is already chronic under-funding.
10. The proposed site represents viable agricultural land and contributes to the sustainability of local wildlife. The loss of the land to development would permanently damage the environmental benefits that it currently provides and the potential to improve the Borough's food security.
11. Any housing needs in the village can be first met by tackling the scourge of vacant and/or second-homes in the village. Effective deterrents to such wasted housing stock would create additional habitable residencies and enable the protection of the village's Green Belt land.