Response from Miss Sylvia M Read (Individual)
1. Miss Sylvia M Read (Individual) : 13 Jan 2016 14:43:00
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT AONB/SLDC
RELATING TO BEETHAM
Having attended the event on December 1st 2015 held at The Heron Theatre, Beetham and having inspected the map of the area of Beetham in relation to sites under consideration for future development, I submit the following comments in relation to the site identified as B32,responding as a property owner in Parsonage Fold, Beetham.
The proposed site is not only in the ANOB but is also within the special Beetham Conservation Area.
Access to the site is from Mill Lane Bridleway which is narrow up its whole length to a degree that currently traffic using the lane is already a danger to pedestrians and horses. Any increase in traffic would add to existing hazards. I do not consider that any acceptable access exists for vehicles in relation to any possible development.
The run off of water from the existing field already adds to the level of water in the flood plain of the River Bela which floods when the river level is high enough to spill into that area. Any development that would replace any of the field with hard surface areas could add to the possibility of the flood plain water over-spilling into Mill Lane itself, which could have serious consequences for existing properties.
Parsonage Fold properties lie adjacent to the identified site. These were not a new build as they were conversion of existing barns and as such remain part of the character of the whole village of Beetham. According to section 6.0.12 of the SLDC Character Appraisal of Beetham Conservation Document- I quote ‘such buildings can be said to add to the general architectural richness of the area….and it will be important that careful attention is given in any development proposals that are likely to affect such buildings.’
All the properties in Parsonage Fold referred to are subject to certain restrictions, stated in the property deeds, which are designed to preserve the essential character of the whole environment. Therefore when considering the identified site with regard to its suitability for modern development any such agreement would be in direct opposition to this. Indeed, the whole village of Beetham would essentially be threatened with losing its overall character.
In addition to restrictions in the deeds, each property owner in Parsonage Fold is liable for a share of the maintenance of the section of Mill Lane that would be driven across to provide access to any such development. Therefore I have a financial interest in objecting to the same.
The rear of the properties of Parsonage Fold form a natural boundary to the open fields/agricultural land. This land is greenfield and an integral part of the village setting.
In conclusion I express the wish that all the considerations in this document be taken into account in any future decision making.
2nd December 2015
