Object
Draft Local Plan-Part 2 Site Allocations
Representation ID: 20129
Received: 21/02/2020
Respondent: Mr Richard Carey
Number of people: 2
With regard to the proposed housing developments at Reedham, we would like to make the following points.
We believe the whole proposal is poorly conceived. There is no access to the proposed development in Mill Road and the understanding was that the field at the top of the development in Barn Owl Close was to be used for recreational purposes when permission was granted. Reedham is at the end of the road network and although one road is graded B it is poorly maintained. Others are narrow, with potholed passing places. The village has already experienced around 30% growth in the past ten years with no improvement in infrastructure. Sewage is a particular problem. Already we have tankers in the village on a daily basis to take sewage away and it regularly floods low lying premises during heavy rain. The situation becomes even worse in the summer, when Pettits opens and we have an influx of tourists. Protestations from Anglian Water that the current sewage and drainage systems are adequate are patently untrue. Extra traffic on Mill Road is unacceptable with the already increasing number of cars at the dangerous crossing near the school. Children have to walk on Mill Road to access the school playing field some distance away. All infrastructure is already overloaded and cannot support another housing development on this scale. Public transport is unreliable and infrequent. Other factors include:-
The Post Office is only part time and the closest alternative is 7 miles away.
The doctor's surgery is part time and the closest is 7 miles away.
There is no police presence. The closest is 20 miles away.
The nearest hospital is 20 miles away.
Telephone & internet services are already stretched.
There is minimal mobile phone service.
Mains electricity often fails, particularly in the Mill Road area.
Mains water pressure is already low in the village.
There is no available employment in the village, which would mean significantly increased traffic.
The large increase in the number of houses over the past few years has had a negligible effect on places being taken up at the village school. As was mentioned at the meeting, the latest development resulted in just one more child attending the school.
Any further developments would inevitably overstretch infrastructure which is already under strain and would significantly detract from the character of the village.
With particular reference to the proposed site at GNLP 3003, There are several further issues.
There is no appropriate vehicular access.
The road around the school is already heavily congested while parents are dropping off and collecting children. This site would add more vehicles and pedestrians to the area.
Building here would significantly detract from the views enjoyed by all the surrounding properties, as well as adding significantly to light pollution. Reedham is currently one of the few villages known for its dark skies at night.
There is inherent danger to children from the escarpment down to the railway line along the edge of the site.
There is apparently a power cable under the field, which would have to be moved.
We feel that there are numerous viable alternative sites, with far better roads and infrastructure. Many within a short distance of the new Norwich NDR. It would surely be better to utilise these, or brownfield sites, rather than further overload a small village at the end of a 7 mile, narrow, poorly maintained feeder road which passes through several other villages before joining the A47.
With regard to the proposed housing developments at Reedham, we would like to make the following points.
We believe the whole proposal is poorly conceived. There is no access to the proposed development in Mill Road and the understanding was that the field at the top of the development in Barn Owl Close was to be used for recreational purposes when permission was granted. Reedham is at the end of the road network and although one road is graded B it is poorly maintained. Others are narrow, with potholed passing places. The village has already experienced around 30% growth in the past ten years with no improvement in infrastructure. Sewage is a particular problem. Already we have tankers in the village on a daily basis to take sewage away and it regularly floods low lying premises during heavy rain. The situation becomes even worse in the summer, when Pettits opens and we have an influx of tourists. Protestations from Anglian Water that the current sewage and drainage systems are adequate are patently untrue. Extra traffic on Mill Road is unacceptable with the already increasing number of cars at the dangerous crossing near the school. Children have to walk on Mill Road to access the school playing field some distance away. All infrastructure is already overloaded and cannot support another housing development on this scale. Public transport is unreliable and infrequent. Other factors include:-
The Post Office is only part time and the closest alternative is 7 miles away.
The doctor's surgery is part time and the closest is 7 miles away.
There is no police presence. The closest is 20 miles away.
The nearest hospital is 20 miles away.
Telephone & internet services are already stretched.
There is minimal mobile phone service.
Mains electricity often fails, particularly in the Mill Road area.
Mains water pressure is already low in the village.
There is no available employment in the village, which would mean significantly increased traffic.
The large increase in the number of houses over the past few years has had a negligible effect on places being taken up at the village school. As was mentioned at the meeting, the latest development resulted in just one more child attending the school.
Any further developments would inevitably overstretch infrastructure which is already under strain and would significantly detract from the character of the village.
With particular reference to the proposed site at GNLP 3003, There are several further issues.
There is no appropriate vehicular access.
The road around the school is already heavily congested while parents are dropping off and collecting children. This site would add more vehicles and pedestrians to the area.
Building here would significantly detract from the views enjoyed by all the surrounding properties, as well as adding significantly to light pollution. Reedham is currently one of the few villages known for its dark skies at night.
There is inherent danger to children from the escarpment down to the railway line along the edge of the site.
There is apparently a power cable under the field, which would have to be moved.
We feel that there are numerous viable alternative sites, with far better roads and infrastructure. Many within a short distance of the new Norwich NDR. It would surely be better to utilise these, or brownfield sites, rather than further overload a small village at the end of a 7 mile, narrow, poorly maintained feeder road which passes through several other villages before joining the A47.