Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Disagree

I am writing to formally object to the proposed inclusion of Site C4S (008), The Lodge, Water Lane, ME14 3LT in the DPD plan. Based on my extensive familiarity with the area, its history, and the current services available to properties in the vicinity, I believe this site is wholly unsuitable for any further consideration and should be removed from the proposed plan. In arriving at my conclusion, I have relied upon my very many years’ experience as both a police officer and local government officer where I was employed as a manager within the Highways Department of Ashford Borough Council. XXXXX Bridge Farm, Water Lane, Thurnham, ME14 3LT. Prior to purchasing the property, they kept horses at Bridge Farm, and as a regular visitor both to their horses and now to their home, I have become very well acquainted with the proposed site, its immediate surroundings, and the services and history of the local properties. Water Lane is a very narrow and busy country lane, with only a few available passing points. Throughout the year, the road carries significant surface water, largely runoff from the surrounding land. On several occasions during my visits, I have encountered flooding at the section where Water Lane meets the Roundwell, as well as under the motorway bridge north of the proposed site. Visibility when turning onto Roundwell from Water Lane, particularly when turning left, is particularly restricted. An additional hazard is caused by the limited view to the left because of the curvature of the road and owning to the facts that a row of cars is most frequently parked on the opposite site of the road causing approaching traffic to travel on the offside of the road and invariably at a fast speed, Currently, Water Lane is used by many walkers, dog walkers, and horse riders. The existing volume of traffic already presents a considerable risk to these users, particularly when the road is waterlogged, as there are no footpaths or street lighting. Any form of development would inevitably increase traffic levels, thereby exacerbating the existing dangers and risks along this stretch of road. Access to The Lodge is via a driveway owned by my son, with access allowed over the driveway to the owners of the Lodge. Recently, the owners of The Lodge have for some reason removed bushes and trees growing on their land where it borders Water Lane, just north of Bridge Farm’s entrance, quite probably in premature expectation of receiving permission to create their own driveway entrance. When joining Water Lane from my son’s driveway by car, care and extreme caution is required due to restricted the severely restricted visibility, which is caused by the trees and hedging growing on the border of the road and the curvature of the road. According to the planning application submitted by the owners of The Lodge, they propose to create a new entrance to their land from Water Lane, which would be situated north of Bridge Farm’s current access point. In 2024 the owners of The Lodge applied to remove protected (TPO’d) trees near Water Lane—an application which was refused. The justification for removal was that these trees obstructed the view from Bridge Farm’s driveway and made exiting onto the road extremely dangerous. These protected trees (one on The Lodge’s land, two in a neighbouring farmer’s field), along with the mature hedgerows, continue to limit visibility. Should a new access point be created north of Bridge Farm’s entrance, visibility would be even further reduced, especially with the likelihood of larger and slower vehicles using the access, making it entirely unsuitable and dangerous. The application for the site suggests that all necessary services are available. However, I understand that The Lodge and Bridge Farm share ownership of the pipe supplying water to both properties. This pipe is of small diameter and travels a long distance from the mains, resulting in very low water pressure and slow flow. Any additional users would further decrease water availability, meaning any new development would require its own independent water supply. Neither Bridge Farm nor The Lodge is connected to mains drainage, and connection to the mains is understood to be neither practical nor possible given the location. Furthermore, neither property is supplied by mains gas; while there is a mains gas pipeline nearby, it does not provide domestic supply to the local area. Bridge Farm has long benefited from its quiet, unspoilt countryside setting, with The Lodge (a modest two-bedroom bungalow) as its sole neighbour. The Lodge’s land borders both the northern and eastern boundaries of Bridge Farm, and any new development here would significantly and negatively impact both Bridge Farm and the surrounding rural landscape, particularly in consideration of the additional activity that a caravan site would impose on the area, introducing more homes, vehicles, and people to the area. During my visits, I have observed a variety of wildlife, including all manner of wild birds including buzzards, bats, badgers, snakes, toads and owls, whose habitats will undoubtedly be disturbed by development. In summary, I object to the inclusion of Site C4S (008), The Lodge, Water Lane, ME14 3LT in the DPD plan for the following reasons: · Water Lane is undoubtably unsuitable for increased traffic or development. · Access to the site for the proposed purpose would be dangerous and inadequate. · The site’s existing services are completely insufficient to support further development without significant update, improvement and increased capacity. · Any development will have a detrimental effect on existing properties and the local countryside My submission outlines my concern and objections to the inclusion of Site C4S (008), The Lodge, Water Lane, ME14 3LT in the DPD plan, citing inadequate site services such as water, drainage, and gas, concerns about the environmental impact on local wildlife and the rural landscape, and the unsuitability of Water Lane for increased traffic or development. The proposed development is considered to pose significant risks to both the countryside character and existing properties without extensive infrastructure improvements. I have included photographs showing the existing access from Bridge Farm/The Lodge on to Water Lane (in one of these photographs one of the TPO trees is shown) and the other photographs show the road junction of Water Lane and Roundwell.