Response from Mr Scott Robinson, CEDAR GROVE ACTION GROUP
1. Mr Scott Robinson, CEDAR GROVE ACTION GROUP : 29 May 2008 20:52:00
To which part of the Report does your representation relate?
Paragraph or Section
Key Diagram - Kendal Functional Area - Figure 21
Please state as clearly as you can the exact part of the Report you are commenting on by quoting the page number (if known), paragraph number, option name or number, or the number of the map, figure or table.
PAGE 128 - KENDAL FUNCTIONAL AREA - FIGURE 21 (AREA 2B LAND OFF MAPLE DRIVE AND CEDAR GROVE)
Do you support, oppose or have an observation about this part of the Report?
Oppose
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.
Point 1 – Limestone pavement/bedrock
If the development were to take place it would significantly affect the limestone pavement/bedrock in the area. This is believed to be just below ground surface level and there are also numerous limestone outcrops in the area.
In the early 1990’s when the original developers built on Cedar Grove, the land where the last 3 houses now stand was blasted out using explosives.
We are very concerned re the potential impact to local people and damage to existing houses if further blasting or other violent means were necessary to develop the new site. When the original site was developed it is known that limestone fragments and splinters were showered across the local area.
In addition to the above we are also concerned about the environmental impact if the limestone bedrock was removed and natural drainage systems affected. For instance local residents believe that during heavy periods of rainfall surface water would increase and cause flooding to properties further down the Vicarage Drive area.
Point 2 – Infrastructure and Road Access
The current traffic situation on Vicarage Drive is already considered to be extremely hazardous.
The development of Kendal College is causing increased roadside parking resulting in traffic congestion around Vicarage Park School. This has resulted in a dangerous drop off and collection area for children.
As a result of the changes in traffic flow in Kendal town centre, this has caused increased traffic volumes down Stainbank Road and onto Vicarage Drive. The traffic then “bottlenecks” at the Milnthorpe Road junction and causes long tailbacks up Vicarage Drive. This further compounds the dangerous traffic conditions around the school and college. There have already been a number of incidents at this accident blackspot.
If the area of land behind Cedar Grove and Maple Drive was to be developed, HGV access and delivery vehicles would cause damage to drains as was experienced on Vicarage Drive in the 1990’s when numerous drains collapsed as a result of the Vicarage Heights development.
Another major concern is the width of Cedar Grove, for example, which has a maximum width of 5.6m and then narrows considerably at the head of the cul-de-sac.
Finally if HGV’s were to use the residential roads in the area as access, the risks to children and pedestrians would be significantly increased.
In summary if the site were to be developed, the residents in the area believe that Cedar Grove and Maple Drive is inadequate as access roads to the proposed site.
For all the reasons previously mentioned above the proposed development would exacerbate the risks to children and residents. Also the extension of Kendal College would add further traffic problems to the area. Couple this with the assumed development of housing on land just off Westwood Avenue and it is clear that this would make the traffic situation intolerable for local people.
Finally it is questionable if the existing drains would be adequate to service a new housing development. As the LDF states on area 2B - “economies of scale due to large size”.
In total 46 householders in the area attended a public meeting on 27 May regarding the proposed development and a copy of this response is being distributed to all attendees along with the meeting minutes.
What change(s) would you suggest for this part of the Report?
We would suggest the complete removal from the LDF of area 2B land off Cedar Grove and Maple Drive.
Please use this space if you wish to set out a new option for consideration.
We would like to suggest that the area of land near to Scroggs Wood on the southern edge of the town be considered as a possible alternative site for development.
There are a number of major benefits in using this area of land as follows:
Access - No current or future issues for traffic management including during the development phase. Due to the sites location (on the main road into Kendal) there would be easy access for residents and public transport. The development would also have no impact whatsoever on traffic volumes in the town centre.
Size - Due to size of the plot of land, a vastly increased number of new homes could be accomodated.
Services – As the site would be relatively easy to develop this would mean that the infrastructure and services could be designed at the outset to match the needs of the development rather than utilising existing services such as drains, water and power.
Impact – There would be no impact either visually, environmentally or on the existing local community.
Cost – As the proposed site is flat and very accessible we believe that costs for developers would be greatly reduced.
Please indicate if you wish to be notified when the Core Strategy has been:
Submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination
Adopted by the District Council