Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Strongly disagree

My concerns relate to Policy C4S (008) - The Lodge This is described as a "preferred site" in Figure 7.1 No indication is given of the number of pitches that this potential site might accommodate, and yet the Council states that planning permission "will be granted", without any reference to this aspect, let alone any consideration of the relevant Development Plan policies. This cannot be right. At the very least the Council is tying its hands in terms of any future application for planning permission on this site. It is indicated that access is to be via Water Lane. It would be totally inappropriate to use Water Lane in its current state for access to this site. It is narrow, there are footways between Roundwell and the site and there is regular flooding of the carriageway at the junction of Water Lane and Rounwell. When this occurs, not only does this make passage by vehicles hazardous, but also makes passage by pedestrians impossible.This lack of adequate drainage facilities should clearly weigh heavily against the proposed use of this site. Paragraph 142 states that "highways should be wide enough that a large static caravan can be delivered by a large goods vehicle......" and that "walkways should be provided". This is related to the layout within the site. These criteria cannot be met on Water Lane itself, and therefore it follows that the site cannot be provided with adequate access from the wider highway network via Water Lane. Paragraph 127 draws attention to the importance of considering the impact any proposed development of any non-allocated site on the landscape and rural character of the Borough's countryside, in the context of the wider objective of protecting its intrinsic character. There is no evidence in the document that any assessment from this point of view has taken place. The site in question forms part of the setting of the Kent Downs National Landscape, where it is expected that proposed developments should demonstrate that they will enhance the quality of the landscape. Some effort should have been made to take this into account. Policy TR7 in dealing with accommodation on non-allocated sites, makes the point at "g" that sites should preferably be located in areas that are not inappropriate for ordinary "bricks and mortar" housing. I submit that this site would not be considered suitable or appropriate as a site for conventional housing, having regard to the deficiencies of access and to its rural location.