Local Development Framework Consultation
Response from Mr Donovon Noble (Individual)
1. Mr Donovon Noble (Individual) : 8 Jul 2008 11:40:00
Please write your comment or explain your reasons for supporting or opposing this part of the Report. You may also wish to refer to the tests of soundess in the glossary of the Preferred Options document before making your comments.
1. The correct spelling for Grange-over-Sands is with hyphens and not as used in the framework.
2. The area marked on the map for the Berners development area is incorrect. It should be a U-shaped area and not include Thornleigh Road, the area on Kents Bank Road between Thornleigh Road and the Fire Station, nor the apartments in both the Berners Close new block and the existing building.
3. It is difficult to see how the town traffic system could cope with all the new development planned. It is already having to cope with the new development at Merlewood and probably the new supermarket at the Toyota junction. Grange-over-Sands is a long narrow town bounded by the Lake District National Park and other geographical limitations. The new development of houses and employment at the top of Risedale/Kents Bank Road would put particular pressure on Risedale which is already a dangerous road with many poorly designed exit points from side roads and the refuse site. On balance and as stated in the framework, most of the employment opportunities are to the East of Grange-over-Sands and this will mean that traffic will have to travel through the town from the major new development area on the south west of the town
4. There is no indication in the framework of whether a traffic assessment survey would be carried out before the proposals in the report are finalised. There would seem to be no point in adding all the development plans if subsequently the road system could not cope. Surely, putting the cart before the horse. The Douglas Wheeler Report noted the effect of traffic on the town and its effects on the pedestrian environment (Page 17). The framework states on Page 150 that ‘Grange town centre already struggles to cope with traffic and service pressures’.
5. The development area on Kents Bank Road in south west Grange-over-Sands is not in the Lake District National Park nor is an area of outstanding national beauty, but the character of the area is surely close to being very special and should not be subject to development.
6. The land at Kents Bank was also identified in the Douglas Wheeler report but it noted that this had the potential for only 42 units. Other sites identified in the same report have not been considered in the framework.
7. There is no mention, or provision, for a site for a petrol filling station even though Grange-over-Sands is being considered as a service centre.