Local Development Framework Consultation

AS23 – S56 Land at Whinney Fold, Silverdale
I am a Silverdale resident and have very serious concerns about the allocation of land for housing development at this location:
1. This land is important for its scenic beauty in an AONB. It sits in an, as yet, unspoiled intimate valley where there are wonderful hedges, trees, woods a natural pond and historical field boundaries.
2. It is overlooked by a well used public footpath to the east of the site.
3. I do not accept that at this location, in an AONB, 6 houses could be described as a small development. They would not fit with the present building lines. They would protrude out into open fields. I ask that it is not accepted that such development could be adequately mitigated.
4. When considering the planning application for the existing Whinney Fold development in 1997, the City Council’s Planning Committee report stated that: "The proposals have attracted considerable objection, following consideration of these and particularly the concern that the site might be extended in the future, the layout has been amended. The form of the access road has changed; its design has been downgraded to the standard required for a short residential cul-de-sac, so that there is no question of its being seen as a way of opening up the land to the south for further development. At the same time the position of the houses has been amended slightly, so that it would be more difficult to extend this road; access to the field is maintained for agricultural purposes only" – To disregarded this statement would suggest that present assurances, that there will be no further development, are also likely to be disregarded.
5. It is suggested that a defensible boundary could be created to prevent further development. Common sense dictates that such boundaries’ are fine in theory but can always be overcome in practice, if there is sufficient profit in the exercise. Walls and houses can be demolished.
6. Silverdale, it is said, is the largest township in the UK without any mains drainage. In addition to its 1800 or so dwellings, it hosts over 600 static caravans and very many touring caravans. I would submit that a very detailed study of what is happening to sewage now should be undertaken before any consideration is given to any further development. We may be given assurances that any new development will have adequate, modern, sewage disposal systems, but it must be remembered this proposed development is literally only 200 metres from Morecambe Bay, a Special Protection Area (SPA)
7. The field in question is known to flood at times of heavy rain fall.
8. Regarding traffic access, may I refer to 4 above. The present layout was “Downgraded” to deal only with the traffic presently generated.
9. Housing need is questionable. I ask that it be noted, that property in the present Whinney fold has, over the past 8 years, often remained unoccupied over several months, for the lack of interested tenants. It should perhaps also be noted that there is at present no waiting list for these properties.
I ask that in view of all considerations this is not an appropriate site for housing development and that it be removed from the final land allocations.

No thank you.

None