Local Development Framework Consultation

Land Allocations Emerging Options Consultation Document *

Land Allocations Development Plan Document Emerging Options Consultation Edition

Complete

Support in part

I respectfully suggest that there is no real expectation of meaningful consultation on these documents with the vast majority of residents…

• There are dozens of documents – many hundreds of pages long – thousands of pages in all…
• Typical sentence lengths are long – not conducive to easy understanding…
• The indexing is poor.
• The document summaries are often missing, or scattered in the body of the reports…
• The displays in the Westmorland Centre & Asda were simplistic & council staff were only helpful inasmuch as they explained the boards – no other information…

Given this, what feedback is expected?

Some other general points:

• I can see no overt justification for the assumptions…
• Why is an objective such as, ‘to make South Lakeland the best place to live, work and visit and achieve the Core Strategy vision and objectives’, correct/ worthwhile/ realistically achievable? Where is the justification? A very good place to live/ work might be achieved at a much lower cost…
• Surely, the SLDC’s duty is to the present ‘ratepayers’… I suggest that the vast majority do not want unrealistic goals further wasting their hard-earned money.
• Just because people aspire to live in the South Lakes, does not mean that SLDC has to meet these aspirations. We have all hoped for the impossible…
• I note that there is a core strategy to build c. 400 houses per annum (¶1.6)
• I can find no reference to:
o Amount of potential Brownfield sites & their potential?
o How many vacant properties there are at present – private & rented - & for how long?
o Why recent developments are standing empty months after completion?
o Why sites with planning permission stand vacant?
o How long properties are on the market before selling.
o The effect of current recession on the strategy…
• I would have expected an analysis of previous strategies… What is different about this one? We read about all the things that are wrong – whose plans resulted in this outcome?
• In respect of Kendal, the strategy seems like an early computer game (Tetris) – attempting to cram in the highest density of housing possible. In the event, destroying the very fabric of the South Lakes that makes it so attractive – both for residents & visitors.
• The in-fill strategy is misplaced. Kendal will become divorced from nature & its surroundings. The plan seems to draw a ring around Kendal & fill in to the maximum. Kendal should have ‘soft edges’, in keeping with a small market town.
• Can Kendal accept the planned growth?
o Traffic problems in the town have given rise to poor air quality in places.
o There is a shortage of car parking.
o Problems with the waste treatment plant in south Kendal have not been addressed.
o Many parts of Kendal have flooding or potential flooding issues - not just due to the rivers, but also in times of exceptional rain. Building on the remaining open spaces can only exacerbate these issues.
o The report identifies many of the potential problems associated with the planned developments. However, I can see no firm proposals on how or when these potential problems will be addressed…
• The paper on ‘Open Space, Sport & Recreation Assessment is flawed in my opinion.
o The sample size is small.
o There is no analysis of whether the sample size is representative of the ratepayers, when it was taken or how…
o There is no quantitative error analysis.
o In short, based on the report, numbers are pulled out of a hat & given spurious credibility…
• In respect of industrial premises, we are on a hopeless merry go round where neighbouring councils try to woo businesses away from competitors… The reality is that until market forces necessitate a change in commuting patterns, the majority of skilled & professional people will live in the Lakes & work outside…
• Finally, the continued blockage of the main road into Kendal by the Conservative Party building is an utter disgrace… If we cannot sort this, one can have little hope for such grandiose plans as those presented…