Object

Preferred Options

Representation ID: 48085

Received: 27/07/2012

Respondent: Mrs E F Trafford

Representation Summary:

Object to development at Whitnash East/South of Sydenham.
Impact on existing facilities/infrastructure.
Sydenham School recently enlarged to cope with existing children. Schools at capacity.
Commuting increases traffic on busy roads.
Green spaces already eroded.
Location 6 is of archaeological interest.

Full text:

I object to the proposed housing development at Location 6 (Whitnash East/South of Sydenham) for the following reasons.
The serious impact this would have on the existing facilities and infrastructure.
Sydenham School has just recently been enlarged to enable it to cope with the children already in the catchment area. This does not take into account further housing development. Local schools, with the exception of Whitnash Combined where there are places available further up the school, are at capacity. When the Warwick Gates development was built I understand additional money was provided for the existing schools to be enlarged, however, this has not proved wholly satisfactory as there are instances where first and middle school children have not been placed at their local school but have to travel some distance to school. Whereas this would not be unusual for secondary school children it is not acceptable for younger children. There have also been occasions when children from the same family have not been able to attend the same school. Ideally local children should be given a place at their local school. When looking to enlarge schools in order to accommodate additional children it is clearly not sufficient to think in terms of classrooms but also playground size, playing field size, assembly hall size and cloakroom facilities.
In many cases the houses which have been built are not occupied by families working locally but people who then commute thus causing problems on already busy roads.
The green spaces surrounding Whitnash have already been eroded bit by bit. The area in Location 6 is one of archaeological interest and considerable charm.
It is for the above reasons that I strongly object to further housing development at Location 6.
Location 12 (Fieldgate Lane/Golf Lane, Whitnash.)
I object to housing development at Location 12 on the following grounds.
Golf Lane is already a very busy road with a number of residential roads feeding into it. Additional housing would only add to the problem. The local schools which are very popular are already at capacity.
Whilst I appreciate that the Council has to have a Local Plan in place it is my view that Whitnash has already had it's share of housing over the past years and that housing development in Location 12 is not in the interest of either retaining some of the character of the area or of the people already living in Whitnash.