Object

New, Revised and Small Sites

Representation ID: 19022

Received: 13/12/2018

Respondent: Rockland St Mary Parish Council

Representation Summary:

The Parish Council does not consider this site suitable for development. A copy of the Parish Council's response to this site and the other call for sites can be viewed on the Parish website www.rocklandstmary.org.uk and the two notice boards - at the Post Office and Hellington.

Full text:

Site ref 2007 (next to Eel Catcher Close)
The site lies outside the development boundary and to the edge of the eastern side of the village. The site is at the brow of a hill where site lines are restricted. A request for planning permission to erect a house on the land opposite was refused in 2017 due to the dangers of entry onto the road. The road is part of a national cycle route, heavily used by cyclists each day. It is also much used by ramblers and local walkers who access the public right of way next to the site. Data from the Parish Council's SAM2 monitor shows a high volume of traffic passes the site particularly between 6 am and 9.30am and 3.30 and 7pm each day, with speeding an additional problem as drivers leave or enter the village at this point.
Residents have expressed the view that the ongoing housing development at Bee Orchid Way should be sufficient to provide a 'share' towards the extra housing required by the GNLP.
The Parish Council's other major concern with this site is its proximity to the Staithe and Broad. At present the site and the neighbouring field act as a 'buffer' between the small exceptions site at Eel Catcher Close and the existing properties set back from the road on New Inn Hill. The site is very close to a tourist attraction for bird watchers, boat users, ramblers and fishing. The popularity for both villagers and visitors to this end of the village lie in its very unspoilt, natural and tranquil qualities.
The Parish Council remains very concerned about the capacity of drains and sewerage to take additional waste from further housing. For example, the ongoing development being undertaken at Bee Orchid Way has provided evidence of overflows from that site's drain into the Staithe. This has happened a number of times and was reported both to the Environment Agency and Anglian Water. Householders in Lower Road at the bottom of New Inn Hill have also reported that the nearby pumping station is not always able to deal with current levels of waste disposal and thus on occasion sewage leaks into the nearby beck and into the Staithe.
The extra weight on the road at New Inn Hill caused by the recent increase in lorries needed by the various housing developments caused the road opposite the public house to collapse and fracture the water main. If heavy plant vehicles put a major strain on the road and the utilities' infrastructure beneath then any further increase in traffic following development will have a similar effect over time.
The Parish Council does not consider this site suitable for development