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Gwrthwynebu

ID sylw: 50788

Derbyniwyd: 31/07/2012

Ymatebydd: Mr Graham Harvey

Here is a remnant of green belt that acts in many ways to prevent encroachment and to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas. There are no exceptional circumstances to suggest that this ought to be removed from the green belt.

It is a natural Green Wedge and meets the constraints to development which are set out in PO15 -Green Infrastructure.

Both of these factors are already present without the need for enhancement.
It is not clear whether the whole area up to the A46 would be removed from the green belt but to do so would potentially then allow for further development. It is doubtful whether the farming activity would be viable after the construction of 180 houses (removal of 28.54 acres).

The whole area is part of a major approach to the historic county town. The current arrangement screens the Woodloes Estate and together with the designated Garden Park / Garden of Special Historic Interest provides one of the last rural approaches to the town.

In previous documentation e.g The Strategic Land Housing Assessment June 2009, this has been access to this area has been recognised as 'constrained'

Amenity /landscape value:
The views from Woodloes Lane, across to Old Milverton, benefit from this elevated position. The trees, many of which are ancient, give a peerless framework to these views.
The lane is part of the designated 'Millennium Way' which is enjoyed by many visitors as well as locals who ride, cycle, walk and dog walk along its length.

The points in para 109 of the NPPF nearly all apply to Loes Farm.

In 2008 when the area was being considered for development a report was written examining many sites with regard to biodiversity:

"The sections of woodland are of high biodiversity value and should be protected from development...that the species rich hedgerow is retained with a buffer zone....The ponds should be retained with a buffer zone implemented to protect the biodiversity value of the ponds...The grassland within this parcel is significant due to the
presence of mature anthills and ridge and furrow. This grassland dominates the parcel and therefore the parcel is not favourable for development."

The findings are still valid and we have personal knowledge of the birds, butterflies, moths and other insects that are supported by this habitat and that it is a green corridor for many more.

Concerns have also been expressed locally about the potential of exacerbated local flooding problems to properties including Hinton's Nursery and adjacent properties as a result of development.


Access:

Clarity about the nature of access to this site has been hard to come by, but the suggestion has been that it would be from Primrose Hill, approximately where the 'speed trap' pad is sited. This is by definition therefore a hazardous area with traffic coming over the blind brow just before Hathaway Drive at excessive
speed. There are already problems with cars turning into Woodloes Avenue North and the proximity of two roads would, without serious mitigation, exacerbate this.
Safety for pedestrians or cyclists walking/cycling from the proposed site is also poor with little current access except for cutting through near Woodloes Avenue North and Elliott Close. It is highly unlikely given current preferences by parents to drive their children to school for safety and convenience reasons that
the walking/cycling options will be attractive from this more distant location.
The Coventry Road also has a bad track record especially with regard to the access to the Saxon Mill and it is assumed that this would be a wholly inappropriate access point.

Infrastructure
It is impossible to gauge whether there is sufficient capacity in schools, doctor's surgeries, without serious infrastructure costs. There are no proposals for local employment that relate to this add on to the Woodloes Park development.

The Coventry Road, and especially the island servicing Greville Road and Primrose Hill, already have capacity issues which have been recognised in Transport Plans as well as air quality issues. There addition of additional vehicles from such a development will exacerbate the situation especially as there will be an increase of traffic on the estate roads to the school and local shops.

Community Infrastructure Levy
There are considerable costs to a developer for this site not only for the road and pedestrian access but also to provide an extension of the sound barrier along the A46 to mitigate the very high levels of traffic noise.