Object

Village Housing Options and Settlement Boundaries

Representation ID: 61242

Received: 20/01/2014

Respondent: Mrs Laura Teodorczyk

Representation Summary:

Hatton Park is NOT suitable for further development.

The Preferred Option is inappropriate because:

-There is already significant traffic congestion on the A4177, exacerbated by further development within Hatton Park;
-The proposed exit onto the A4177 is an accident blackspot with no safe pedestrian crossing;
-Development of this site will ecologically destroy Smith's Covert (ancient woodland, home to many protected animals);
-Facilities/amenities within Hatton Park are insufficient for 850 homes;
-Public transport within Hatton Park is insufficient;
-Flooding on and around this site will be exacerbated by further development;
-The local school has already been extended and is full to capacity.

Full text:

Please refer to my other detailed representations that Hatton Park is NOT suitable for further development and that I do not support any development sites.

I object to this site being the preferred option for the following reasons:

The A4177 is the main road providing access to the A46 leading to the M42/M40 and A45/M6 - there is already significant traffic congestion, particularly during rush hours, which will be exacerbated by this development (which will be made worse by the proposed works to the Stanks junction giving traffic on the A46 priority). The proposed exit onto the A4177 is already an accident blackspot and will encourage the use of the Shell garage as a local shop increasing the accident risk with no safe pedestrian crossing.

Development of this site will result in Smith's Covert - an ancient woodland - being predominately locked by development. This piece of woodland is home to many protected animal species; bats as well as deer, badgers, foxes, rabbits, and birdlife including green and spotted woodpeckers and buzzards to name a few. These species will suffer if this corridor link from Smith's Covert to the greater countryside is blocked by housing.

The local school has already been extended and is full to capacity.

Facilities/amenities within Hatton Park are insufficient - there is a community centre and small village shop - but that is all. Hatton Park village shop would benefit from additional residents - however the location of the preferred site would provide the Shell garage with additional business - not the village shop.

Public transport within Hatton Park is insufficient. The bus service is sporadic and unreliable and therefore underutilised. Residents have to rely on cars to access supermarkets, doctors surgeries, post offices, dentists, train stations, restaurants etc.

Local flooding on the Birmingham Road at the junction with Ugly Bridge Road is a regular occurrence and is likely to get worse with additional development.