Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Barley Parish Council wish to make the following representation in respect of North Herts District Council's Proposed Submission Local Plan 2011 - 2031.

Barley Parish Council has reviewed the Proposed Submission Local Plan 2011 - 2031 currently out for consultation and are broadly supportive of the approach the District Council has taken, particularly with its emphasis on sustainable development, its recognition of "the value of local knowledge and the importance of local choice" and its further recognition of the need to be flexible to respond to the views of Parishes. Whilst we agree with the statement that it is important to allow some degree of growth in villages to allow communities to function, this must not be at the expense of existing communities and environments, and must be respectful of the views of residents.
We are, however, concerned at the level of housing being proposed by the draft local plan for Barkway and the adverse impact we believe this scale of development will have on Barley. There are currently three sites identified for housing in Barkway:-

BK1 - 13 dwellings
BK2 - 20 dwellings
BK3 - 140 dwellings

A total of 173 new dwellings, equating to an increase of over 50% on the existing number of dwellings; allowing for two cars per dwelling and a minimum of four traffic movement per day that will mean an additional 346 traffic movements per day. There can be no doubt that the majority of that traffic will use the B1368 and we would expect the majority of journeys to be north, to and through Barley, accessing Royston, Cambridge and Audley End. Traffic volumes and speed are already major concerns of Barley residents and such an increase in traffic movements from the proposed developments in Barkway ,with particular reference to site BK3, would only exacerbate the situation. Government policy is clear that the purpose of planning is to achieve sustainable development but in supporting growth, this should not be at the expense of the natural and historic environment. Barley Parish Council is firmly of the opinion that the level of increased traffic through the village as a direct result of the proposed development of site BK3 in Barkway would have a prejudicial impact on the historic setting and environment of Barley.

The Parish Council would further expect the majority of the increased traffic to continue north of Barley to the junction of the B1368 with the A505 at Flintcross. This junction struggles to cope with existing traffic flows, waiting times at peak periods regularly exceed 15 minutes and there are numerous accidents throughout the year; it is our opinion that the junction could not safely accommodate the substantial increase in traffic as a result of the proposed Barkway developments.

We would ask the District Council to recognize the adverse impact these proposed developments will have on the wider area and to reconsider these allocations. We understand that Site BK3 has previously been considered by the District Council as part of this Local Plan process and been rejected by it and would urge the Council to remove this site from the plan.

Barley Parish Council wish to make the following representation in respect of North Herts District Council's Proposed Submission Local Plan 2011 - 2031.

Barley Parish Council has reviewed the Proposed Submission Local Plan 2011 - 2031 currently out for consultation and are broadly supportive of the approach the District Council has taken, particularly with its emphasis on sustainable development, its recognition of "the value of local knowledge and the importance of local choice" and its further recognition of the need to be flexible to respond to the views of Parishes. Whilst we agree with the statement that it is important to allow some degree of growth in villages to allow communities to function, this must not be at the expense of existing communities and environments, and must be respectful of the views of residents.
We are, however, concerned at the level of housing being proposed by the draft local plan for Barkway and the adverse impact we believe this scale of development will have on Barley. There are currently three sites identified for housing in Barkway:-

BK1 - 13 dwellings
BK2 - 20 dwellings
BK3 - 140 dwellings

A total of 173 new dwellings, equating to an increase of over 50% on the existing number of dwellings; allowing for two cars per dwelling and a minimum of four traffic movement per day that will mean an additional 346 traffic movements per day. There can be no doubt that the majority of that traffic will use the B1368 and we would expect the majority of journeys to be north, to and through Barley, accessing Royston, Cambridge and Audley End. Traffic volumes and speed are already major concerns of Barley residents and such an increase in traffic movements from the proposed developments in Barkway ,with particular reference to site BK3, would only exacerbate the situation. Government policy is clear that the purpose of planning is to achieve sustainable development but in supporting growth, this should not be at the expense of the natural and historic environment. Barley Parish Council is firmly of the opinion that the level of increased traffic through the village as a direct result of the proposed development of site BK3 in Barkway would have a prejudicial impact on the historic setting and environment of Barley.

The Parish Council would further expect the majority of the increased traffic to continue north of Barley to the junction of the B1368 with the A505 at Flintcross. This junction struggles to cope with existing traffic flows, waiting times at peak periods regularly exceed 15 minutes and there are numerous accidents throughout the year; it is our opinion that the junction could not safely accommodate the substantial increase in traffic as a result of the proposed Barkway developments.

We would ask the District Council to recognize the adverse impact these proposed developments will have on the wider area and to reconsider these allocations. We understand that Site BK3 has previously been considered by the District Council as part of this Local Plan process and been rejected by it and would urge the Council to remove this site from the plan.