Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I write to object to the suitability of this proposed site and that it should not be taken any further and removed from the DPD proposed plan. XXXX own Bridge Farm, Water Lane, Thurnham, ME14 3LT and have kept their horses at the property for a number of years prior to their purchase. As regular visitor to their horses and now home I am very familiar with the proposed site, the surrounding area aswell as history and services of the properties. Water Lane is a busy narrow country lane with few passing points and throughout the year has a great deal of surface water running over it (which i understand runs off the surrounding land). There have been a number of times that I have visited when the road has been flooded where it meets the Roundwell aswell as north of the proposed site under the motorway bridge. As it is, Water Lane is used by many walkers, dog walkers and horse riders, and with the volume of traffic, especially when the road is covered in water this is quite dangerous to these users as there are no footpaths or street lights. Any sort of development would inevitably cause more traffic and therefore more risk and danger along the road. The Lodge accesses their property / land over a driveway owned XXXX / Bridge Farm. North of Bridge Farms entrance driveway, in very recent times the owners of The Lodge have removed bushes and trees from their land where it meets Water Lane. Joining Water Lane from the driveway in a car a great deal of care needs to be taken as visibility is limited given the trees/hedges that remain and the layout of the road itself. Reading the application made by the owners of the Lodge they are proposing to create a new entrance to their land from Water Lane which will be north of Bridge Farms existing entrance way. In 2024 the owners of The Lodge submitted an application to remove TPO'd trees from their land closest to Water Lane ( which was refused) stating that the "3 trees obstructed the view from Bridge Farms driveway when pulling onto the road" and making it "extremely dangerous" and a comment supporting this application stated "as a car driver it is particularly dangerous when exiting the drive as your vision is to the right is severely impaired by tree and vegetation". Given that the 3 TPO'd trees remain ( one on the Lodges land and the other 2 in another farmers field) along with the mature hedges on that farmers land and that the proposed access would be north of Bridge Farms existing access then visibility will be even more restricted and with the likely hood of larger / slower vehicles using the proposed access this would be even more dangerous and therefore unsuitable access. The sites application suggests that all services are available. I understand that The Lodge and Bridge Farm share the ownership of the pipe that supplies both properties with water and that given that this pipe is a small diameter and has to travel a considerable distance from the mains supply water pressure is extremely low and flows very slowly. Any additional users would further reduce this flow and therefore any new development would need to have its own water supply. There is no mains drainage to either Bridge Farm or The Lodge and I understand that connection to the mains would not be practical or possible given the location of the property. Neither property has a main gas supply. I understand XXXX enquiries to Gas suppliers that there is a mains gas pipeline nearby but this pipeline does not facilitate domestic supply in the local area. Bridge Farm has historically enjoyed the quiet unspoilt countryside close to The Downs with The Lodge, (a small 2 bedroomed bungalow) as its only neighbour. With The Lodges land on both Bridge Farms Northern and Eastern boundary any form of development would be a significant negative impact to Bridge Farm and the local countryside as it will bring additional homes, vehicles and people. On my visits I have seen many wild animals including buzzards, bats, and owls and any development will no doubt disturb these animals habitats. In summary I object to the inclusion of site C4S (008), The Lodge, Water Lane, ME14 3LT in the DPD plan as it is not a suitable location given : Water Lane is an unsuitable road Access would be dangerous and unsuitable. The sites services are unsuitable The negative impact any development would have on existing properties and the local countryside.