Response from Mr & Mrs Victor & Alison Hughes (Individual)
1. Mr & Mrs Victor & Alison Hughes (Individual) : 17 Apr 2011 21:35:00
Settlement
Clawthorpe
Map Number
7 Burton in Kendal (with Clawthorpe)
Site reference number (e.g. R62) - If your comment is about a specific site you must indicate the correct site reference.
MN14 & MN14M
Housing
Oppose
Employment
Oppose
Retail
Oppose
Community uses
Oppose
Open space
No view
Please explain your reasons
I write with regard to the suggested site to the rear of Clawthorpe Hall, ref. MN14 and MN14M. I wish to record my objections as follows:
1 Access
Cumbria Highways have highlighted the fact that the existing access is substandard . I would agree that the existing staggered junction is far from satisfactory. I have had to brake sharply on a number of occasions whilst pulling off the main A6070 into Clawthorpe Lane. This was due to cars exiting the Clawthorpe Hall Business Centre and pulling out across my path, assuming that as I was indicating left I would be entering the business centre. Increased traffic flow at this junction would make the existing poor situation even more dangerous. As an alternative, access to the site from Clawthorpe Lane is not in my opinion an option. This is because it is a single track lane with a blind 90 degree bend close to the junction with the A6070 and poor visibility along the length of the site frontage.
2 Flooding
There are existing problems with flooding on the A6070 close to the site. It has been noted that surface water run-off would need to be no worse than exisitng green field run-off rates. Due to the nature of the underlying limestone, outcrops of which can be seen across the propsed site, surface water run-off is likely to be a significant issue if the area is hard landscaped.
3 The Need for More Business Units
I question the need for more business units at Clawthorpe when units are being advertised at a number of neighbouring business centres. Furthermore Clawthorpe Hall itself is advertising offices to let and planning consent has been granted for two new build office blocks on the site which have yet to be built. The site is identified as an unsustainable location.
4 Impact on the Landscape
Clawthorpe traditionally was a hamlet of scattered houses and farms arranged at intervals along Clawthorpe Lane. It is set within an area of rural beauty. I consider that one function of the planning system is to protect the character of areas and settlement features in open countryside such as this. Allowing an extension to the existing business centre or housing development on this site would ruin the sporadic nature of the Clawthorpe Cottages Hamlet. Limestone features would also be lost which only a short distance away are considered precious enough to designate a site of special scientific interest.
5 Site Usage
The site is designated for affordable housing or employment land. For reasons stated in 3 above, I feel that the need for additional employment land at Clawthorpe is satisfied by the recently granted new build units and expansion of other nearby business centres, Mossend for example. At the Burton-in-Kendal drop in session I was assured by Mr McNeil that the council would not support housing on this site yet the site is offered for housing / employment. The site is identified as unsustainable.
A housing development here , especially affordable housing would be inappropriate. There are no footways or cycle paths from the site to the nearby viallges of Burton or Holme and shortcomings regarding access to primary and secondary education are identified in the councils fact file.
In conclusion, for the above reasons I offer that the develpoment site MN14 / MN14M is an inappropriate use of this greenfield site and should not be considered further for development.
