Response from Mrs Jennifer Richards (Individual)
1. Mrs Jennifer Richards (Individual) : 1 Mar 2011 13:52:00
Settlement
Grange over Sands
Site reference number (e.g. R62) - If your comment is about a specific site you must indicate the correct site reference.
R110
Housing
Oppose
Employment
Oppose
Retail
Oppose
Community uses
Support in part
Open space
Support
Please explain your reasons
I feel that Grange over Sands is not in a position to support the development of an additional 500 homes in the town. The town does not have the infrastructure to properly support its existing population. To propose an increase in its population size would make matters even worse. Grange over Sands is approached from A590 along a narrow, twisting B road which doesn't in places even have a footpath, forcing pedestrians between Lindale and Lyndene Drive into a dangerous position, having to walk along this narrow and already busy road. There are already bottlenecks where traffic becomes congested and comes to a standstill due to the layout of the town, given the layout of the town there is nothing that can be done easily to improve this. The road passes directly through the Main Street which is part of the shopping area of the town. Vehicles delivering to these shops cause traffic to come to a standstill as there is simply insufficient room to pass,e.g. two buses cannot pass each other on many occasions.
The water, drainage and sewerage systems are at or near full capacity. After heavy rain there is often minor or in many cases severe flooding throughout the town. I personally have noticed this occurs particularly on Cart Lane/Sedgwick Court. This has been an ongoing problem for many years but United Utilities, SLDC etc have failed to fully deal with this problem.
The town has insufficient shops and leisure facilities to support an increase in population. We have no supermarket, no petrol station and no swimming pool, but we do have two redundant swimming pools!!! At present there is only very limited access to the promenade due to the removal of two footbridges some years ago. Any visitor to the town would see that the town is almost deserted after 7.00 p.m. this prompts the question "What is there for young people to do?" The answer would be probably very little which does result in boredom, and increase in vandalism. We also do not have a regularly manned police station, the nearest station being Milnthorpe.
There are very few employment prospects for people moving into the town. Most of the local employment relates to the shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes with a few opportunities with local professional offices.
Young families who we would assume the housing would be targetted for would be at a distinct disadvantage in Grange, having to travel not insignificant distances for employment and shopping opportunities.
With particular reference to site R110 - Site to the South of Thornfield Road. This piece of land is indeed one of the last open spaces in Grange and is within the Conservation Area. Any proposed development on this site would erode the spacious qualities of this part of the Conservation Area and its distinct contribution to the designated area as a whole. Any building on this site would neither preserve nor enhance the character or appearance of the Grange-Over-Sands Conservation Area. Any proposal for development here would cause serious harm and conflict with the balance which has to be struck between the need for development, re-use of under-used land and the interests of conservation.
In particular, the issue around traffic is of prime importance in any considerations concerning this piece of land. There are huge concerns around increased traffic on B5277 and the ability to build a road into the site so as to provide a clear view for emerging drivers (given that on the site it is proposed to build 60 houses, there could be as many as two cars per household).
I would like to draw your attention to a previous planning application from Wainhomes Ltd for a development on this site (Application No 5/91/2372). Thankfully SLDC had the wisdom to turn down this application. Indeed the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal by Wainhomes Ltd relating to this site, the Inspector had particular concerns regarding increased traffic. If SLDC and the Planning Inspector recognised that there was a problem with traffic when this applicaton was considered in 1992, it should be realised that this issue will have become exasperated in the intervening period with additional road traffic on B5277.
Do you think that your area needs new or improved community facilities? If so, what sort of facilities and where?
Please explain the types of improved and/or new community facilities your community may need in the next 15 years
Most definitely so. Grange over Sands has restricted facilities. SLDC will only be too well aware of the saga concerning the town's two defunct swimming pools. Urgent action is needed to ensure that the town is provided with a swimming pool, particularly if 500 new homes are to be built here.
It would not be unreasonable to expect the town to have a cinema/arts complex. The town is also trying to maintain its reputation as a tourist destination and should be able to provide facilities to welcome visitors, e.g. having proper access to the promenade and not least having public toilets which are open and properly maintained!
