Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I wish to object to the Roundwood (GA 1) planning application and GA2 as part of the larger local plan due to:
1. Existing transport access is poor, via already congested residential roads (Mendip Way in Great Ashby). Large scale movements of construction traffic will not be suitable on these roads.
2. Proposals to widen Mendip Way by removing existing grass verges will reduce parking space on this road from around 100 to 55, a loss of 45 spaces. This will force traffic onto side streets (such as Nevis Road, Cheviot Way, Cotswold Drive, Snowdonia Way). These streets already have existing parking problems that will only be exacerbated with additional traffic from Mendip Way. The existing parking problems have been caused by previous planning laws allowing only 1.5 car spaces per property (now 2 cars). Also, previous planning laws allowed garage sizes to be built smaller 2.5m x 5m (vs current 3m x 7m). This directly impacts current parking congestion in Great Ashby by severely limiting the use of private garages for parking average size vehicles as they are too small.
3. Additional residential traffic from the new development will be forced onto already congested roads. Mendip Way and Great Ashby Way will be especially prone to this during morning and evening rush hours, with obvious safety implications for current residents.
4. Other smaller roads will become 'rat runs' as residential traffic moves during rush hour periods. Nevis Road and Snowdonia Way are examples.
5. Taking into account the increased traffic (both construction and eventually residential) that will be forced onto local roads, the existing public transport service will suffer at key times such as morning and evening rush hours, especially if the route is changed to include Mendip Way.
6. No consideration has been given to GA2 plans for a further 500 houses in Great Ashby. The original planned 3rd exit "link road" out of Great Ashby is very much needed.
7. The are no spaces available at local schools, with Round Diamond Primary school already turning down applications from large numbers of existing residents for places. This will lead to further traffic problems as parents are forced to drive their children to schools that are further away.
8. There do not appear to be any plans for the provision of additional amenities, such as places at doctors and dental surgeries. The Lister hospital is struggling to cope now, without all the extra residents the housing development will bring in. The Comet newspaper (11th March 2016) reported how A&E waiting time targets set by the government have not been met since emergency services were centralised at Lister following the closure of the emergency department at the QEII in Welwyn Garden City in October 2014. Adult minor injury services have been suspended twice this year at Lister's A&E due to the number of more serious cases.
9. The proposed development is not sustainable. There are no additional facilities proposed. Existing facilities are already stretched or non-existent, and will be further stretched by this proposed development.

I wish to object to the Roundwood (GA 1) planning application and GA2 as part of the larger local plan due to:
1. Existing transport access is poor, via already congested residential roads (Mendip Way in Great Ashby). Large scale movements of construction traffic will not be suitable on these roads.
2. Proposals to widen Mendip Way by removing existing grass verges will reduce parking space on this road from around 100 to 55, a loss of 45 spaces. This will force traffic onto side streets (such as Nevis Road, Cheviot Way, Cotswold Drive, Snowdonia Way). These streets already have existing parking problems that will only be exacerbated with additional traffic from Mendip Way. The existing parking problems have been caused by previous planning laws allowing only 1.5 car spaces per property (now 2 cars). Also, previous planning laws allowed garage sizes to be built smaller 2.5m x 5m (vs current 3m x 7m). This directly impacts current parking congestion in Great Ashby by severely limiting the use of private garages for parking average size vehicles as they are too small.
3. Additional residential traffic from the new development will be forced onto already congested roads. Mendip Way and Great Ashby Way will be especially prone to this during morning and evening rush hours, with obvious safety implications for current residents.
4. Other smaller roads will become 'rat runs' as residential traffic moves during rush hour periods. Nevis Road and Snowdonia Way are examples.
5. Taking into account the increased traffic (both construction and eventually residential) that will be forced onto local roads, the existing public transport service will suffer at key times such as morning and evening rush hours, especially if the route is changed to include Mendip Way.
6. No consideration has been given to GA2 plans for a further 500 houses in Great Ashby. The original planned 3rd exit "link road" out of Great Ashby is very much needed.
7. The are no spaces available at local schools, with Round Diamond Primary school already turning down applications from large numbers of existing residents for places. This will lead to further traffic problems as parents are forced to drive their children to schools that are further away.
8. There do not appear to be any plans for the provision of additional amenities, such as places at doctors and dental surgeries. The Lister hospital is struggling to cope now, without all the extra residents the housing development will bring in. The Comet newspaper (11th March 2016) reported how A&E waiting time targets set by the government have not been met since emergency services were centralised at Lister following the closure of the emergency department at the QEII in Welwyn Garden City in October 2014. Adult minor injury services have been suspended twice this year at Lister's A&E due to the number of more serious cases.
9. The proposed development is not sustainable. There are no additional facilities proposed. Existing facilities are already stretched or non-existent, and will be further stretched by this proposed development.