Object
Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation
Representation ID: 7683
Received: 12/03/2019
Respondent: Hockley Heath Parish Council
School Road is a minor road, floods, poorly lit, experiences congestion, vehicles speed in excess of limit and residents have been concerned about children's safety for some time. SMBC Highways frequently informed by HHPC of excessive speeding.
Large dense development proposed which is out of proportion to area and village.
NP survey results indicate this was the top area residents stated should be protected from development and also indicated greenbelt should be preserved.
School on opposite side to development (no footpath by site 25) so concerned of safety with crossing road.
School Road will be impacted by BVP.
Hockley Heath Parish Council do not believe that Site 25 should be included as an allocated site.
School Road is a minor road and experiences congestion around the school. Local residents frequently inform the Parish Council of excessive speeding and safety concerns. As mentioned previously, School Road is used as a shortcut to avoid the frequent daily congestion on the A3400. In respect of suggestions that any future development could improve Hockley Heath Academy drop off and collections, we would point out that the development is on the other side of the busy School Road and we do not accept that the risks associated with additional children crossing the road offset the negative aspects of the release of the land. The existing volume and speed of traffic will be further impacted by BVP. School Road is also prone to flooding which has not been addressed within the draft consultation documentation. The road also lacks a footpath at the location of the proposed site 25 development and is poorly lit.
In the Summer of 2018 the Parish Council ran a survey across the village in support of the Neighbourhood Plan. The survey received an excellent response rate for a survey of this type (50% of the village responded) and its findings will form a key element of the forthcoming Neighbourhood Plan. Our response to this consultation should be viewed as being informed by representative data from the village as a whole. The survey found:
a) 87% of respondents indicated it was very important for highway changes to School Road to prevent excessive vehicle use arising from additional Blythe Valley Park development. This finding was in advance of any consultation associated with the release of green belt land on School Road and potential housing.
b) the top priority in terms of the natural environment was to protect the views of green belt land and green spaces from inappropriate development (92% of residents)
c) 69% of residents felt that School Road should be protected from development (the highest response)
The draft concept masterplan for the site indicates a density of housing out of proportion to the village as whole.