Douglas Castle.
Ramblers Association, Worcestershire Area Footpath Secretary.
Email: douglas.castle@hotmail.com Tel: (01684) 560602.
Address: 11 Woodshears Drive, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 3EA
22nd May 2013
Your Reference: W/13/00680/PN
Ms. H. Pearson
Wychavon District Council
Civic Centre
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Pershore
Worcestershire
Dear Ms. Pearson
Proposed Residential Development at Leamington Road, Broadway
Thank you for inviting Ramblers to comment on this application. We note that the site is
included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan as a residential preferred option
site. As such we regret that this application has been submitted and that it will usurp the
democratic planning policy decision process which we see as a fairer way for Society to
make major and perhaps controversial development choices. In our view this is a flaw in
the current Planning system.
We assume that it is unlikely that a strong case can be made to oppose this application
given that it already has the support of the Council and its professional officers. We would
simply say that Broadway is a very special place and adding large scale development in
each planning cycle will lead to a loss of its small scale intimate rural character and this is
to be regretted. Our comments are therefore restricted to matters of detail that affect
walkers interests.
Footpath BY-521 is a valuable link between the centre of Broadway with its amenities and
facilities and the outer residential areas and the open countryside to the north of the
settlement. The footpaths accessibility and usefulness to serve this function needs to be
protected and enhanced if people are to be pursuaded to walk instead of using the car. It
seems to us that the applicants design does not appreciate this valuable role of the public
right of way.
Instead of embracing the footpath together with the equally important community open
space which ought to be at the heart of their design they have tucked them away behind
the dwellings. This visual problem is exacerbated by the fact that they are only accessible
by way of what will be seen as a private drive to several houses. The footpath and open
space ought to be an integral part of the design with dwellings looking onto them and also
open to public view. This negative perception is increased by the fact that the access from
The Ramblers' Association is a registered charity (England and Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SCO039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales
(no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE17TW.
the houses is squeezed throught a gap between two houses. Whilst we believe that the
actual area chosen for the open space is the best available, this does not mean that it
cannot be treated as a part of the overall design even though it is on the west edge of the
site. We hope that you will ask the applicant to rethink this aspect of the scheme but
without taking new built development to the west of the footpath.
We note the comments of the Worcestershire Public Rights of Way team and agree with
them that the existing alignment of the footpath needs to be retained and not infringed
upon by the development. It is an historic feature with direction and purpose and this
should be respected. The developers should be asked to accurately identify the position
on their drawings and if the path is infringed by the development, to adjust their plans
accordingly.
We are also of the opinion that the public right of way should not be utilised as an access
drive to dwellings as is currently proposed. This is not necessary and to do so creates
confusion between what should be the public and the private realms with the potential for
conflict between walkers and residents, public right and private ownership.
We note that a bollard controlled emergency access is provided between Phillips Road
and the courtyard surrounded by plots 90, 91, 95, 96 and 97. This will mean that it will be
possible to walk and cycle between the existing and proposed housing areas. This we
welcome but we think that some thought is needed to ensure that the design encourages
such interconnectivity.
To the north of the site a 'track' links Leamington Road to footpath BY-521. This is
annotated as 'farm track access to adjoining fields' and 'existing gated access retained'.
The plans suggest that this 'track' also provides for pedestrian movement and access and
primary frontage to the dwellings on plots 70, 71, 112 and 113. There are also several
points where footpaths from the new houses link with the 'track. This additional route for
walking is welcome but clarity is needed about public use of the track, how it will be
surfaced and how compatibiliy will be achieved between its use by farm vehicles,
pedestrians and amenity for the dwellings facing it..
Finally we welcome the footpath to be provided into the residential area from Leamington
Road which will be a useful link to the school.
Yours Sincerely
G.D.Castle
Area Footpath Secretary
The Ramblers' Association is a registered charity (England and Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SCO039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales
(no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE17TW.