Response from Ms Margaret Carter (Individual)
1. Ms Margaret Carter (Individual) : 8 May 2013 12:49:00
Please add your response below, quoting the main modification reference number: (limit 3000 words)
MM002/1.23
“Presumption in favour of sustainable development:”
“...to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental conditions in South Lakeland.”
1. Objection re environmental conditions: the amended plan does not address the well-known traffic bottlenecks on the B5277 through Grange-over-Sands at Main Street and Risedale Hill; neither does it address the problem of flooding caused by rainwater run-off alongside the railway embankment, Cart Lane and Kents Bank station. There are also the issues of the loss of important greenfield sites, and the loss of open space between Kents Bank and Allithwaite.
2. Objection re economic conditions: the amended plan does not recognise the importance of the tourism industry to Grange-over-Sands. The plan removes 164 parking places and does not allow for tourist coach parking. If the Berner’s development is to be a success, we need more parking, not less. Otherwise we will end up with another failed project. Even if coach parking were to be available, coaches avoid driving up through Grange to the town centre because of the serious traffic issue of driving up Main Street. Only one lane of traffic is possible up Main Street if there is an HGV vehicle, a wide load, or a large coach. This frequently happens, even outside the tourist season.
MM007/2.23 also refers to taking into account:
• “General criteria such as ... the ease of accessing the site”. The B5277/Main Street is inadequate as an access road into Grange-over-Sands. Local traffic flow data was based on a traffic survey at Risedale Hill on 29th January 2013, 8-9am and 5-6pm - which is hardly representative.
• “Sustainability considerations including the distance of key services, the quality of public transport ... the risks of flooding...”. SLDC assert that Grange-over-Sands is a Key Service Centre, but it does not comply with SLDC’s own criteria: it is not the main employment centre for the surrounding villages; there is no secondary school or educational provision for children 16 and over; there is no direct bus link to the nearest hospital at Kendal; the nearest petrol station is a 12-mile round trip; there are no buses in the evening or on Sundays.
• “Landscape and settlement considerations including the potential impact of development on landscape and views, the scale of development relative to the settlement size, whether the site preserves the separate identity of settlements...” 735 new homes in Grange-over-Sands and district is severely out of proportion with the settlement size and will have an adverse affect on landscape and views. We will lose our attraction as a tourist centre. The assessment of housing need is based on flawed statistics, i.e. questionnaires returned by only 18.7% of households in the area, 2001 census figures, and the assertion that Grange is a Key Service Centre. The separate identity of settlements will disappear.
MM008/2.25
“Once all elements of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 have been implemented.... that meet National Standards for development.” No building should go ahead until there is an effective, proven flood management strategy.
MM053/Policy LA3.2
“...land south of Allithwaite Road, Kent’s Bank.... B8 employment uses will not be permitted on the site.” This is a red herring - B8 employment units were not included in the original plan anyway (MN25M).
“... the retention of the westernmost portion of the site for open space and landscaping.” The acceptability of this statement depends on the size of the proposed portion.
I submit my comments as a Grange-over-Sands resident, in the hope that they will be taken into account - but in truth with no confidence that they will be, based on past experience.
Yours sincerely
Margaret Carter
