Object

Village Housing Options and Settlement Boundaries

Representation ID: 60977

Received: 16/01/2014

Respondent: Dr Rebecca Hodgetts

Representation Summary:

-The A4177 is already highly congested at peak times, making commuting and the school run awful already. Adding building traffic will make this commute impossible with considerable road problems and a potential increase in accidents on an already dangerous road.
-All the schools in the area are over subscribed and are already at times taking beyond their allocated capacity. This is unsafe given no increase in funding for communal facilities/ space and staff. Adding a considerable number of children in catchment by increasing Hatton Park and Hatton Station is not possible unless additional places at quality schools are created.

Full text:

I am writing to represent my concerns about any expansion to the hatton park area. This is because there are a number of issues faced by existing residents which would be further exacerbated. These include:
1. The a4177 is already highly congested at peak times, making commuting and the school run awful already. Adding building traffic and then potentially another 180 cars (most are 2 car families if 90 homes are built) will make this commute impossible with considerable road problems and a potential increase in accidents on an already dangerous road. This is not taking into account even more additional traffic if areas such as hatton station are expanded.
2. All the schools in the area are over subscribed and are already at times taking beyond their allocated capacity. This is unsafe given no increase in funding for communal facilities/ space and staff. Adding a considerable number of children in catchment by increasing hatton park and hatton station is not possible unless additional places at quality schools are created. Furthermore, the ferncumbe bus drop off/pick up sites on hatton park are already dangerous for pedestrians and drivers alike as there are so many cars parked along the roads. Adding to this will increase the likelihood of accidents considerably.
3. Hatton park is under resourced in terms of facilities for the existing number of homes. The play park is small and poorly equipped compared to other areas and the parking at the village hall already inadequate. There is nothing for teenagers to do. Getting to doctors and dentists already requires a commute and these services will be stretched further by additional residents, resulting in increasing waiting times and a poorer service.

Creating homes is important but making the hatton park area undesirable and unliveable is counterproductive.