Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

The effects of this potential development I would like to highlight are
-the traffic impact on the area
-the impact on Rights of Way use in the area
-the impact on the character of the Conservation Area of Barkway

Barkway is a commuters village and of necessity it has a high ratio of car ownership (1 per adult). The proposed development for site BK3 is 173 homes. This would represent a large increase in traffic movements for a village which at present has approximately 370 dwellings. Trips would include school runs for children above year 4, shopping, doctor and dentist visits, and commuting to work places in Royston, Buntingford, Cambridge, London or other nearby towns. Therefore, the traffic impact would not just be noticed in Barkway itself, but would likely result in more congestion on the southern entrances to Royston along the A10, and along the B1039. It would also affect Barley and the A505 in Cambridgeshire at Flint Cross, which is already a busy junction at peak times. A map with the key congestion points coloured in red is attached (BK3_traffic_impact.jpg).

The local area has several equestrian businesses (Newsells Stud Farm, Barkway Equestrian Centre, Barkway Stud, Barley Lovely View Stables, Burloes Farm) as well as several premises with horses kept for recreational purposes. Therefore it is not unlikely to encounter horses on the road. The local roads in the area, also those of a lesser status than B-roads, already are very busy with cars, lorries, delivery vans and considerable movement of quarry lorries from Anstey. Use of the bridleways on the Rights of Way network, will incorporate some movement of horses on the roads. The minimum road usage of horses in the area necessary to connect to existing bridleways has been displayed in red lines on the attached map (BK3_ROW_impact). As can be seen, there is a large impact of increased traffic on the riding of horses in the surrounding countryside. Furthermore the development itself directly affects Barkway Bridleway 17 and 18, which are an important gateway to off-road riding possibilities on the Newsells Estate and an off-road connection to Barley.

Lastly, the proposed development, BK3, would have a negative impact on the character of the Conservation Area of Barkway village. The historic village itself being of a linear nature, and the new development of a more insular design. This could cause problems of integration between the old and new parts. Traffic increases would affect the old linear part of the village worse, and result in a decrease in the quality of living for that part of the village.