I am not a NIMBY and am well aware of the need for extra housing in this area both for first time buyers and for social housing but I felt compelled to raise objections to the large number of proposed housing schemes targeted around the Raweth Lane and London Road area.
The traffic congestion during peak times is well documented and no one can fail to notice the state of the roads at present - I cannot imagine how much worse both would be if all 4,540 houses (as noted in the Lib Dem's FOCUS pamphlet) were to be built. I can see how much extra revenue in the form of Council Taxes would be raised by these and how this is a very attractive proposition but the infrastructure and facilities are not in place to support this number. It is impossible to get a doctor's appointment in under a week at present in my surgery and it is again well documented that surgeries have difficulty in recruiting GPs let alone how the NHS is stretched generally in this area.
I have no doubt that planning for some of the housing schemes will be passed but I do hope that a great deal of care and consideration will be given to each on merit and with an eye on the bigger picture for the area.