Local Development Framework Consultation

The following comments relate to policies and sites within Storth & Sandside described in “Draft Plan v16 171116” and “AS_AONB_Inset_Mapbook_Nov_Consultation_A3L_08Nov2016”.

1 As Treasurer of the Storth Playing Fields and Heron Hall Committee I strongly support the designation of B253 (Storth Primary School & green play areas) and B224 (Storth Playing Field and Heron Hall) as Open Space. The Playing Field Committee of local volunteers maintains and develops the facilities in B224, cooperating with the School to enhance the educational experience of the pupils through, for example, access to large-scale physical education activities, access to the Heron Hall for whole-school assemblies and drama activities. Heron Hall is also used twice each week by a local playgroup, and the field area provides significant play equipment for youngsters in the surrounding villages as well as picnic facilities for the general public.

2 The proposal for the inclusion of residential use in B35 and B81, particularly if a significant portion is “affordable housing” attractive to younger families with children of school age, is to be welcomed, and this would strengthen the existing provision of school and playing field facilities (described in comment 1) in the medium to long term.

3 The designation of B79 and B116 as “Key Settlement Landscape” is also strongly supported as this brings open space into the heart of the village. Were these sites to be developed, the rural character of Storth would be permanently changed.

4 In terms of the proposed “specific development requirements” to apply to sites B35, B38, B81 and B125, the recognition of the need for development to fully manage the known risks of tidal and run-off flooding is welcomed as is the requirement for mitigation measures to safeguard bio-diversity, to respect “materials, scale and character” within sites B35 and B81 in particular - Requirements I to VI, and IX to XI).

5 We strongly agree with the proposed development requirement (VII) to provide a “pedestrian access route” along Park Road from the Ship Inn to the exit of Quarry Lane. In conjunction with the re-think of access to B81 from Park Road to Quarry Lane at the Ship Inn (VIII) it might also be useful to provide a cycle way along Quarry Lane to improve safety for cyclists by avoiding the need to share Park Road with vehicle traffic and pedestrians.

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