Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Croudace proposes to widen Mendip Way and Haybluff Drive and reduce parking spaces in these roads. This will lead to a bigger parking problem in this area. If the Council approves option 1, it will leave existing residents with only 46 parking spaces: Mendip Way: 19 spaces; Haybluff Drive: 3 spaces; Bray Drive: 14 spaces; Nevis Road: 14 Spaces. Option 2 will give 69 spaces with just three trees. This is inconsiderate.

By widening the roads, Croudace will reduce the grass verges and trees along Mendip Way, putting lives at risk as houses will be very close to the road. The pavements will hardly be wide enough and there will be no safe way for buggies, mobility scooters etc. - if someone trips and falls, the chances are that they will already be in the road! As a side defect, there will be no pavement space for pedestrians on bin days.

The proposed development will bring at least 700 additional vehicles into the area and possibly - this has to be doubted because the planning application does not demonstrate any genuine interest in local services, which is no surprise given the apparent target market for the new homes - a bus route. Furthermore, it is inevitable that even more drivers will take to avoiding congestion on the A1M around Stevenage by cutting though Weston once the single-track Calder Way is closed and traffic is routed along Mendip Way. Volume and, more significantly, speed of rat-run traffic through the village of Weston is already an issue.

Overall, the development will bring no benefits to local residents. It won't even be neutral. It will only have deleterious effects.