Object

Representation ID: 65003

Received: 05/05/2014

Respondent: Mr Dene Jackson-Clarke

Wishes this document to personal representations against site
Green Belt:

Site GT alt03 is the Green Belt.

The Government has consistently stated that Green belt land should only be used in exceptional circumstances.

In a written statement to Parliament on 1st July 2013 , Brandon Lewis, Local Government Minister stated:

"Our Policy Document Planning for traveller sites was issued in March 2012. It makes clear that both temporary and permanent traveller sites are inappropriate development in the green belt, and that planning decisions should protect green belt from such inappropriate development.

The secretary of state wishes to make clear that, in considering planning applications....he considers that the single issue of unmet demand, whether from traveller sites of for conventional housing, is unlikely to outweigh harm to the green belt...to constitute the "very special circumstances" justifying inappropriate development in the green belt"

This was reiterated by Brandon Lewis in his Jan 2014 statement The Secretary of State remains concerned about the extent to which planning appeal decisions are meeting the Government's clear policy intentions, particularly as to whether sufficient weight is being given to the importance of green belt protection. Therefore, he intends to continue to consider for recovery appeals involving traveller sites in the green belt.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS:

WDC has not shown that very exceptional circumstances exist for including GTalt03 in the list of preferred sites as required by Policy E-14: (Traveller Sites in the Green Belt). This contravenes Government Policy.

The consultation document should also state that planning permission has also been refused due t its impact on the Green Belt


In addition, the Green Belt argument was used against Kite's Nest site being a gypsy and traveller site. It is less than a mile away and similar in several aspects. The argument applies equally if not more so to site GTalt03. There is a lack of consistency by WDC when appraising similar sites.

WDC Site Assessment Criterion:

Proximity to Other Residential properties:

* There is a close knit and neighbourly sense of community amongst the occupiers of the 10 or so dwellings in the immediate vicinity of the proposed GTalt03 site.

The Kites Nest Appeal Inspector accepted that the scattered houses do form an identifiable community. The houses on that side of Hampton on the Hill similarly form a community and therefore it could be argued that approving site GTalt03 would be going against the Inspector's comments which have helped

PPTS Policies:

GTalt03 would contravene PPTS Policy B, para 11(a) -policies should "promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community" and PPTS-Policy C -authorities should "ensure that the scale of such sites does not dominate the nearest settled community"

Safe Access from the Site for Vehicles and Pedestrians:

Approval of the GTalt03 would locate the pitches between the fast and busy Henley Road and an access road into Hampton on the Hill. . At this section of the proposed site the road bends hence partial blind spots. Traffic on this road is already dangerous and if proposed housing developments occur it would be set to increase.

The movement of caravans and large vehicles in and out of the site on such a fast and busy road would be potentially dangerous to the proposed occupiers of GTalt03 and could increase likelihood of more accidents to other traffic

Impact on Visual Amenity including the visibility of the site and surrounding area:

The Inspector for Kits Nest Appeal found that the development was very prominent through "gappy hedges" and from public footpaths, and that the existing caravans were an "extremely jarring element"

* Site GTalt03 would be similarly visible as it is directly on the main road
* The road is higher than the proposed site so it would be overlooked
* Screening would be required along the roadside to give privacy to residents from passing traffic and to screen off caravans from neighbouring houses
* Screening issues for Site GTalt03 are even more extensive than Kites Nest

Planning History:
Two previous planning applications have been refused - it is now contradictory to approve for Travellers site

Distance to Nearby Schools etc:
Local Budbrooke School is already struggling with numbers due to rising population. Ferncombe School in Hatton is also full.

Impact of Land Contamination, Noise and Other Disturbance:
* The five pitches present potential noise and disturbance for nearby residents.
* Possible land contamination if dumping of rubbish takes place on the site (ie [as recently took place] at entrance to Aylesford School)

Compliance with PPTS-Policy B-Para 11(e) -Health and Well-being:

* The site is adjacent to dangerous main roads-A46 and Henley Road. There could be detrimental effects to health and well-being of young children living near these roads- does not appear to comply with this policy.