Testun llawn:
1. We have commented twice during previous consultation exercises and would ask that are previous concerns are taken into account during this third consultation exercise.
2. There is a further point which we would ask the Council to consider. It is apparent that the majority of residents in the village do not want additional houses which would change the character of the village and lead to the problems set out in our previous submissions. In a democracy the residents should have the right to determine what happens to their village wharever the planning system says about the quantity of representations.
3. The consultation feedback is very general and very difficult to follow especially the appendices. It appears to be written to justify the decisions taken rather than dealing with the legitimate concerns of the residents of Hampton Magna.
4. There is no reference to any traffic census or study to ascertain the extent of any traffic problems and the possible effect the additional traffic will have even though in Appendix 6 there is an admission that the development of Preferred Option 1 could have the potential for major negative transport effects given that the site has
capacity for over 100 dwellings. Appendix 4 (which I believe relates to comments made during the first consultation) states that infrastructure planning is taking place in parallel with proposals for development, including in relation to Hampton
Magna sites. It also states that advice from transport experts at the County Council suggests that the development proposals can be accommodated. No details of the infrastructure planning is given. Nor are any details given of the information used by the experts to allow them to suggest that the development proposals can be accommodated . This information should be published so that it can be scrutinised. Without the information the statements are worthless.
5. There is no reference to any investigation into the problems caused by parents parking near the school. Only last month I witnessed the local bus being held up for over ten minutes by parked cars.
6. With regard to the preferred option site we would again refer to the Council's own Guidelines (Helping Shape the District -providing well designed new developments that are in the right location, and Guide to Assessment Tables - potential impact). In appendix 6 there is reference to the relatively high landscape value of the land but no explanation as to why the guidelines have been ignored. The Guidelines provide that the Council will make sure new developments are designed and located to maintain and improve the quality of built and natural environments particularly historic areas and buildings, sensitive wildlife habitats and areas of high landscape value. However much the views from the existing settlement are respected this area of high landscape value will not be maintained and certainly not improved, by the development.
7. There is no reference to the existing noise nuisance from the A46 and the M40 in relation to the preferred option although there are references under the discounted options. One such reference is that 'noise issues from the A46 will need to be tackled'. Residents of the village have been trying to 'tackle' the noise nuisance for over 20 years so it would be interesting to know how the Council intends to do it. Until it is able to show that the noise nuisance can be overcome it would be perverse of the Council to allow the preferred option site to be developed.
8. This lack of consideration of the legitimate concerns of the residents reinforces our contention that the process has been flawed from the beginning. Hampton Magna, along with other villages, was arbitrarily earmarked for development in order to accommodate the 850 houses still required after other sites were indentified. It has been identified as a Category 1 Village, a Primary Service Village and a Growth Village without any investigation into the effects development would have despite the numerous concerns expressed by residents. This has put pressure on the Council to identify a preferred option site in Hampton Magna for 100 houses without due consideration of the problems this will cause.
9. Although there are various generalisations and baffling statistics there is no evidence presented to support the theory that Hampton Magna needs this development in order to keep its services.