Response from Mr John Hammond (Individual)
1. Mr John Hammond (Individual) : 4 Jan 2017 10:20:00
Please make your comments in the box below and refer specifically to the number of each site / policy you are commenting on.
LCC and SDLC are to be congratulated on providing a strong framework of relevant legislation and current good practice against which the advisability of any future development can be assessed. This is important for the Arnside and Silverdale AONBs but also nationally as the innovative approach is likely to inform the deliberations of authorities across the country.
Given this significance, locally and nationally, I feel it is necessary to point out a serious inconsistency between the spirit of the Draft Document, set out in the Vision and Objectives and Overall Strategy, and the letter of its implementation in a particular proposed development allocation. The proposed development site in question is AS23 - S56 Land at Whinney Fold, Silverdale, for a development of approximately 6 dwellings on a site of 0.30 hectares.
There are a number of problems with this site:
Traffic Access - Whinney Fold is narrow and twisting and barely copes with the 11 dwellings it already serves.
Sewerage disposal and flood risk - The field floods in winter and sewerage outflow from the present 6 house development has contaminated the nearby shore.
Presence of Wildlife - The field is separated from Morecambe bay by a low hill and hosts curlew, oystercatcher, redshank and shellduck. These habitats would be put at risk by further development.
However, the main issue is that of the adverse impact on the "distinctive quality, character and tranquility" which still exists in this part of the AONB. (Statutory Management Plan, pp. 1.6 DPD Discussion Paper.
The allocation of this site would seriously threaten the distinctive landscape character of the Silverdale AONB for the following reasons:
Any development would need to "reflect the settlement character" and "take full account of the cumumlative and incremental impacts". This site is immediately adjacent to the 6 dwelling mini housing estate built by Two Castles Housing Associatioin in 2004. The development of "approximately" 6 more - reflecting the adjacent settlement character - would result in , at the very least, a 12 dwelling housing estate definitely affecting adversely what had been a quiet valley, close to the sea with visual access and a feel for the natural land forms which characterise the area.
Further, it is difficult to believe that "approximately 6 dwellings" means only 6. Already the developer who had unsuccessfully proposed to build18 units on the same but extended site is in conversation for a 10 unit development. It seems that because 6 units is commercially unattractive any future developer will push the "approximately 6" for more, resulting in a larger development with further adverse impact on the remaining landscape.
Consequently, the obvious and best way to safeguard the special qualities of the AONB, set out on p.3 of the DPD - outstanding landscape and spectacular views; unique limestone geology; rare and precious habitats; rich sense of history; sense of tranquility, space and place - is to remove the land at Whinney Fold from the proposed list of Developoment Allocations. This would also bring the letter of the DPD'S specific recomendations in line with the spirit of its impressive Vision and Objectives.
