Testun llawn:
REFERENCE: Village plans and housing options, section 11, Leek Wootton
Nature of representation: Objection
Dear Sirs
I have a number of objections to the draft local plan and have summarised them as follows, in no particular order:
1). The proposed increase in dwellings for Leek Wootton is 23% of current housing level which I feel is disproportionately high and this level of increase is heavily in excess of that proposed for similar villages
2). Access to the new development (if via Woodcote Drive) is too narrow for vehicles to safely pass and there is no pavement for pedestrians which is dangerous. If access is via the North Lodge entrance the same problems apply
3). Woodcote Lane is very narrow and difficult for passing vehicles and the pavement from Woodcote Drive to the Anchor junction is also narrow. This is dangerous for families with buggies and walking children, especially as this is the route to the village school from the proposed new development.
4). Public Transport to and from the Village is insufficient to enable flexible commuting to work and as there is little work in the village most people will be using cars for travel and there will be very busy peak periods in the morning and late afternoon. Each new residence is likely to have an additional 2 to 5 vehicles, depending on the family profile. We are a 5 person family and out of necessity we have 5 cars.
5). The road junction at the Anchor pub is notoriously dangerous and would prove more so with an increase in traffic and/or a change in the pattern of the traffic. There is an increased safety risk to pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles.
6). Beer lorry deliveries to the Anchor Pub stop just inside Woodcote Lane junction and I have almost collided with a car coming in the opposite direction and on the wrong side of the road. This is an ongoing problem which will only get worse with an increase in traffic. There have also been many recorded motoring accidents in Woodcote Lane and indeed 2 deaths from road accidents.
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7). Planning permission for the village school to be on land off Woodcote Lane was refused when the new school was built in its current location. I would like to suggest that the reasons for that still exist and nothing has substantially changed to justify ignoring those reasons. Please re-visit those reasons.
8). I am strongly in favour of preservation to Green Belt, wherever in the Country it happens to be. New residences could and should be planned on brown field sites and/or near towns where employment and travel are not issues. The change of the village perimeter boundary creates additional risk to the green belt and risk of further infill.
9). The village School is far too small for the likely additional demand
10). The village sewer system is known to have capacity problems
11). I am concerned about the environmental impact on the flora and fauna of the proposed site. The area has Deer, Bats, Badgers (in the woods next to the proposed site) and other wildlife whose habitat will be adversely affected. There are also several mature hedgerows (also wildlife habitats), in particular the hedge along Woodcote Lane between North Lodge and Woodcote Drive.
Please take the above comments into account when considering the current proposal.
In summary a substantially reduced number of residences would reduce the impact of a 23% increase on the village which would harm the existing character and quality of life of Leek Wootton.