1 Harves Court,
Village Street,
Harvington,
Worcestershire.
WR11 8LT
16th Oct 2014
Your Ref. W/14/01788/OU
Site 46-02 Crest Hill
Dear Emma Ridley,
I would like to formally object to the planning application quoted above.
I have read the application with as open a mind as possible but cannot see it as
anything but inappropriate. There are many reasons for this but I will try to keep
it just to the main ones.
I have lived in the village for 16 years and moved here as my parents were living
in the village. I’m currently the captain of one Harvington skittles team &
Evesham skittles league coordinator, I don’t know how that happened, but the
community involvement is something that is very strong here and one reason I
like the place. I feel that this spirit will be weakened but a sudden influx of
people all at one time.
It will also change the nature of the village, making it more town like, if I’d
wanted to live in a town I would have.
The increase in traffic will be noticeable especially as this is one of 3 access
points to the village with one of those being an entry only (2 exit points). It is
very close to the conservation area, the part that gives Harvington its character
and much of this traffic will have to pass through this area on its way from
Evesham. The access in and out of the site will be poor it’s a steep hill with a
curve it is already difficult to see cars exiting/entering Bromley close, the sight
lines just wont work.
The drainage is another area of concern for me, I looked at the land adjacent to
the site as there was concern about the surface water run off. I ought to say
beforehand, only to let you know I have some idea what I’m talking about, not
trying to be big headed here. I was involved in drainage system design as a lead
underground Engineer and previously Senior Underground design engineer for
Bechtel & Foster Wheeler.
The site drains through a 12” pipe currently, running under the road, under the
wharehouse, then to a ditch that runs to the river.
This has virtually no fall on it at all, this land is flood plain and if the rivers high
will not drain. The plans include mitigation devices to increase time to
concentration & smooth the flow rate, however this may help a sudden
downpour, but only if the land downstream can accommodate it. In this case it
seems unlikely. The area designated wetland meadow, is in effect a wide ditch
with planting to disguise same and will indeed be wet!
What concerns me more is the Foul drainage. I don’t see how any plans can be
accepted without the developer having adequate knowledge of the existing
services, the information from Severn Trent states Unknown against all the
downstream pipes. The sizes that are shown on Cress hill and Anchor lane are
150mm already minimal if not inadequate. The pipes Could be increased but not
the treatment facilities south of the bypass, without major expenditure &
disruption.
They already have to cope with considerably more that they were intended for
when built and it’s very unlikely they could cope.
I don’t feel we should suffer the smell & health risk of this.
The visual impact I feel will also adversely affect this conservation zone, we have
people who visit Harvington, walking groups, cyclists and people using the
church for weddings etc. the entry to the place they come to see has a big effect
on how anyone feels about a place. This is going to urbanise a rural village!
It is even government policy PPS7 Protecting the countryside for it’s intrinsic
Character.
The developer also showed pictures of the visual impact on the village, in one
particular photo S8 they showed a hedge along Cress hill giving the impression it
would hide the development “Site is locate behind the existing boundary
vegetation” however in a response to line of sight for cars exiting the site the say
this will be reduced in height to allow vision. If cant hide and allow clear line of
side at the same time.
The pictures seem misleading; some are so far away that you wonder if the
photographer was just out for a tour of the county.
Picture L7, I cycle through this lay by so know the view well, is just ridiculous the
site is completely to the left of their marked position and it’s almost as if they are
trying to justify it not being visible from a place Nothing would you couldn’t see
the Eifel Tower if it was on the site from there.
85 homes seems just too much in one go. There just can’t be a demand for this
many in Harvington. It means maybe 140 couples 140 children, 100+ cars. Just
for this estate, and we can’t ignore the 200 houses at Elenden site (already
proposed) I don’t believe there are enough facilities for this development The
school certainly couldn’t cope, it is a good school but I know that it is difficult to
secure places even now.
We already have had a fair amount of building in Harvington in the last few
years, there is building in most villages about here, there’s just is not the need.
The South Worc’s Development Plan already rejected this land as inappropriate
due to site constraints. This development is not consistent with the natural or
built environment, as this plan requires. Our parish council must be given time to
complete it’s Neighbourhood plan before these developments get the go ahead.
I can’t help feeling the timing of these development applications is to try and get
in before this.
I know there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development under new
National Planning Policy but I seriously don’t think this is Sustainable or would
meet this policy. It doesn’t provide our Local area with what it/We need.
Thank you for your time
Yours
Simon Lee