Response from Mr Mark Coulton (Individual)
1. Mr Mark Coulton (Individual) : 27 Jun 2017 10:39:00
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Arnside - Hollins Lane A8/A9
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We have three comments regarding the draft DPD.
1.
Firstly this extract from the AONB planning document online says:
“As a key early step in the preparation of the Arnside & Silverdale AONB DPD, the Councils invited suggestions for sites to be considered for inclusion in the plan. Consultations on these took place in 2015 and 2016.
All the relevant information gathered was evaluated and the Councils prepared a Draft Plan which was formally consulted upon between 10th November 2016 and 5th January 2017.”
Who was consulted? We certainly were not.
It is disgraceful that we did not have the opportunity to comment on the original plan to site 8 houses directly opposite our front door, over a very narrow lane.
Those “in the know”, with a vested interest in the plans going through, no doubt, were informed, so that their affirmative comments could be recorded, but we, who will be directly affected, had no official notification that this plan was afoot. We are shocked that we have got to June 2017, well into the process, and this matter has only now been brought to our attention, by a neighbour.
There seems to be a certain amount of cloak and dagger going on here.
How are residents supposed to know what is going on? We should have been sent an official notification so that we could comment.
2.
Hollins Lane is an extremely narrow road. Little more than a metalled farm track. Housing development on either side of it means that there is no room for 2 cars to pass other than by going into residential driveways.
There is no footpath, so pedestrians including school children, dog walkers and ramblers as well as the local community all have to walk in the road, sharing it with the vehicles.
There is a dangerous bend, which cars and lorries negotiate at speed without much thought of what they will encounter head-on round the bend.
Hollins Lane has become a cut-through for traffic from Briery Bank to Silverdale Road, and is very busy as a result.
To introduce yet more housing with cars and all the attendant service vehicles, to this already cramped space, will just increase the chances of accidents.
Houses facing onto Hollins Lane will increase this accident hazard as people enter and leave their properties.
3.
Regarding the changes to the plan, to set the proposed development perpendicular to Hollins Lane as opposed to facing onto it:
By nature of the fact that all the houses will be accessed from one point on the lane, instead of all disgorging separately, the accident hazard should be reduced, it is therefore a much better proposal.
However, as residents of Hollins Lane, we do NOT want the field, which at present is grazed by sheep, to become a residential development.
This area of Arnside is already over-congested with houses, and the field provides a much needed breathing space for the local residents and visitors. It is a valuable asset to the AONB to leave it as it is.
