1. Water/sewerage - as a direct result of the recent residential builds on Long Lane; these services have been subject to an unacceptable deterioration in service levels - persistent burst pipes and reduced water pressure. Additional builds would further adversely impact existing infrastructures.
2. Surface Water run off is signifiant particularly impacting existing houses on Long Lane along with other areas in Stoke - due to the high water level tables/heavy clay soil and being in a valley. This run off will only increase as more dwellings go up, existing ditches etc will not cope with additional housing. Some Houses in 5 Acres were recently impacted by increased run off as a result of the WaterMill Meadow new development.
3. Village demographics already reflect a significantly older than average population than the average; further new housing would only increase pressure on already stretched existing services particularly health services such as the local Old Mill Surgery .
4. Road network - Existing network has already seen a massive increase in the volume of traffic - its been a long time issue for Long Lane as its used as a rat run for traffic coming from Poringland which passes straight by the Stoke Primary school and often at speed or without consideration of others . There are no current effective road calming measures in place along this stretch of road. Currently there is no pedestrian or cycle pathway to protect residents who want to walk/cycle between Lower and Upper Stoke, yet it's the local authorities current school transport policy that children from Lower Stoke are not eligible for a bus pass to take them to the local High School in Framingham Earl. Additional housing will add to the congestion and increase the risk of accidents occurring , particularly because of the blind bends and the hill this development will sit on .
5. Wildlife - This field buffer between Upper and Lower Stoke is essential for wildlife flora and fauna which currently contain skylarks, hares, newts, deer and even buzzards. Increased housing along here will squeeze out these welcome neighbours on an indiscriminate basis; destroying some of the very elements which attract new residents to the village.
6. Additional housing will not only impact Stoke Primary in the short Term ie until the run off of children from outside the catchment is completed in its natural course, but also Framingham Earl High which will be faced with increased demand from all the local villages who will also be impacted by additional housing demands.
7. Social Structure - Stoke's existing social structure has been recently challenged and stretched with the integration process of residents from the newly build developments. This ongoing process needs time to evolve and mature especially in a village where there are so few existing amenities to support the elderly to avoid the potential of them being isolated and the young to feel that they belong, being part of a community that cares. Encouraging such behaviours will hopefully nurture the natural social cohesion process and hopefully will result in the calming of any potential anti-social manifestations. Additional housing in such a short period of time would not help this bedding in process .