Object
Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation
Representation ID: 7668
Received: 12/03/2019
Respondent: Professor David Walton
Plan involves a massive expansion into a small town.
Can schools cope with increased pupils/sporting facilities/adult education/access for pupils and parents? When will any new school actually be built?
A dual-carriageway bypass to west of Balsall Common would take North-South traffic, including traffic from JLR/NEC/Airport, while Hall Meadow could remain an access road for shorter-distance traffic on Eastern side.
Will improved car parking be in place before cars pour from new housing onto the local roads?
Inadequate/infrequent bus services, train services full, HS2 will require car journeys northwards.
Improved security required.
Local centre/medical services/power/water supply require improvements.
The Plan demands a huge 45% increase in size (1750 habitations on to 3900), which will have a disproportionate and damaging effect upon Balsall Common. The green belt will be severely reduced, while the lifestyle, well-being and quality of life for existing residents will be greatly changed. It is not clear that sufficient resources will be in place for the benefit of such an influx of population (who need extra amenities for health, education, transport, jobs, shops, living-space etc etc). I once lived in a place massively-expanded under a Plan, and things did not work out as expected. Sustainability, accessibility, effect on the environment are difficult to quantify, but what is in essence the concreting-over of an already very full village will pressurise the infrastructure to an extreme. I have elaborated these points in the attached file, and my view covers several of the questions below.