MM10

Showing comments and forms 1 to 1 of 1

Object

HAAP: Schedule of modifications

Representation ID: 33082

Received: 12/01/2014

Respondent: Mr Brian Guyett

Representation Summary:

The council has suppressed work undertaken by its consultants on highways issues. Why? It should be made public.
Without an 'anchor' supermarket, and with no demand for offices, there might not be any "strategic" development and highways issues will not be addressed. A Transport Assessment, as repeatedly promised, is required.

Full text:

The revised wording dilutes the requirement for a Transport Assessment to "strategic planning applications". With the emphasis on smaller 'boutique' businesses, there is no longer any guarantee any such "strategic planning applications" will be made. There are therefore no effective proposals or evidence to deal with highways issues (Chapter 3, Policy 3) and the council has consistently misled residents and undertaken a U-turn on repeated commitments to undertake a Transport Assessment as part of the HAAP. Smaller developments may also mitigate against meaningful improvements. A clear commitment to a full transport assessment is required.

Evidence:
A Freedom of Information (FoI) response from RDC acknowledged Transport Assessments had been undertaken in Rochford & Rayleigh but refused to release them. What happened to them and why was one not undertaken for Hockley?
Another FoI response revealed work has started on assessing highways issues. The outcome of that work has never been made public - a RDC FoI response denied receiving any output from this work - and presumably kept by the external consultancy. What happened to it and why has it been suppressed? Residents should be able to view the work that RDC commissioned - what are they hiding?
The council has consistently mislead residents by repeatedly stating at every stage, highways issues would be included in the HAAP but, in fact, excluded them.
There is no evidence to support proposals to insert slip lane and widen pavement for 3 extra slip-lanes at the Spa roundabout are viable and have not been properly researched, despite previous promises. FoI responses show RDC's own experts have expressed reservations
Other problem areas such as the railway bridge and Eldon Way junction are not even mentioned.
Proposal to raise access to Woodlands Road likely to cause delays on main road and endanger pedestrians.
The B1013 was assessed many years ago (Sept 2008) by ECC Highways as nearing capacity but no updates despite much increased traffic volumes. Why haven't capacity updates been undertaken?
No Transport Assessment has been undertaken for Core Strategy (as well as the HAAP). A Traffic Assessment is required to ascertain the impact on Hockley of the 3,500 additional homes to be built across the District as part of the Core Strategy.
The council committed to produce a Transport SPD but has not done so.