Object
New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021
Representation ID: 41197
Received: 21/09/2021
Respondent: Mr R Forsyth
I fully appreciate the need for new housing in the RDC area however, the outline proposals for Hockley and Hawkwell just aren't viable.
My reasons are as follows
The size of the proposed developments is far beyond the already creaking capacity of the current infrastructure. Roads, bus services, doctors and schools just don't have the capacity to cope with the invisaged influx of people.
The Spa roundabout is already a bottle neck made worse by the developments at Hall Road and Christmas Tree Farm. It doesn't take much, something like a delivery van parking to cause gridlock. It's getting to the point where people avoid going out at certain times.
Parking in Hockley is awful particularly on a Friday night because of the number of take away restaurants. Illegal parking is rife, zebra crossings, bus stops, disabled bays, nothing is safe from the SUV's.
I think planners need to be aware of how dependent we are on emergency services from outside the immediate area. We have no Police or Ambulance presence and only one retained fire engine in Hawkwell. The more traffic that is piled onto Hockley Road the longer the response times! This puts life at risk!
It seems to me that RDC take a far too relaxed attitude to the mounting problems in this area, speeding drivers, illegal parking in the village and around schools is allowed with no deterent. When was the last time a traffic enforcement officer was seen in Hockley?
The only time RDC take an interest in the area is when they need to build more houses!
I fully appreciate the need for new housing in the RDC area however, the outline proposals for Hockley and Hawkwell just aren't viable.
My reasons are as follows
The size of the proposed developments is far beyond the already creaking capacity of the current infrastructure. Roads, bus services, doctors and schools just don't have the capacity to cope with the invisaged influx of people.
The Spa roundabout is already a bottle neck made worse by the developments at Hall Road and Christmas Tree Farm. It doesn't take much, something like a delivery van parking to cause gridlock. It's getting to the point where people avoid going out at certain times.
Parking in Hockley is awful particularly on a Friday night because of the number of take away restaurants. Illegal parking is rife, zebra crossings, bus stops, disabled bays, nothing is safe from the SUV's.
I think planners need to be aware of how dependent we are on emergency services from outside the immediate area. We have no Police or Ambulance presence and only one retained fire engine in Hawkwell. The more traffic that is piled onto Hockley Road the longer the response times! This puts life at risk!
It seems to me that RDC take a far too relaxed attitude to the mounting problems in this area, speeding drivers, illegal parking in the village and around schools is allowed with no deterent. When was the last time a traffic enforcement officer was seen in Hockley?
The only time RDC take an interest in the area is when they need to build more houses!