View Response

Response Details

Response Details
From John Girdley
Date Started: 10 Jan 2017 10:46. Last modified: 24 Feb 2017 09:06
Status Complete
Response ID #514920

1

Agree that the challenges set out in section 2 of the consultation document are the key challenges facing Elmbridge?

 

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • I don't Know

Please explain your answer
Change is inevitable and EBC must plan for such changes but public consultation must be more than a tick box affair.

The issues of infrastructure, transport and medical services must be addressed before any thought is given to accommodating London Overspill.

2

Do you consider there are other challenges that we should be addressing?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
Traffic congestion in the Cobham/Stoke d'Abernon/Oxshott area.

The provision of adequate localhealth services including a walk in medical centre.

3

Do you consider any particular challenge or challenges that are more important than the others?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
Although housing, and affordable housing in particular has been listed as the number one priority, this is putting the cart before the horse. The number one priority is answering the question "What's the finance" which in turn suggests that local employment should be the second priority followed by solving our current roads issues, and then the vexed question of housing with schools and other social considerations coming last.

4

Agree that Option 2 is the most appropriate option?

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • I don’t know

If you disagree, please explain why and what other option would you support and why?
The construction of social/affordable housing in parcels 14 and 20 is unrealistic. This is one of the most expensive areas of Elmbridge and will not meet the needs of new residents who require easy access to job opportunities, good public transport links and local health care facilities, none of which are readily available in the area.

5

Do you consider the suggested exceptional circumstances are sufficient to support the amendment of the Green Belt boundary?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
Housing London Overspill is not the concern of EBC tax payers. EBC should have protecting the Green Belt as a priority, not an amendment which will facilitate it's loss.

Green belt boundaries will need to be revised in order to make changes to local roads before any housing plans are contemplated

6

Agree that, given the appropriate exceptional circumstances, these three key strategic areas are appropriate for removal from the Green Belt?

 

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • I don’t know

Please explain your answer
I only have knowledge of areas 14 and 20 and viewed in isolation they would appear to be worthy of careful development provided appropriate road access can be provided. For far too long, the issue of roads in Cobham has been been ignored by both EBC and Surrey CC.

7

Do you know of any sites within any of the three key strategic areas that could be considered for future development?

 

  • Yes
  • No

Please explain your answer
I do not consider that EBC has fully considered all options and is taking the easy option by only looking at large land masses.

8

Do you consider that other areas of land should be removed from the Green Belt including those that are moderately or strongly performing?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

9

Do you agree that we should seek to provide more of a balance in terms of the size of new homes being built?  

 

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
Long term residents, often with larger homes, want to downsize but the only properties available are on so called "age related" developments often located alongside traffic hot spots, leasehold and with high service charges.

A balanced approach to new homes must include price/quality levels.

10

Given the over delivery of homes with 4 or more bedrooms should we try to limit their delivery in future?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
Focus on high quality 2 & 3 bedroom homes. Many buyers are only opting for 4 bed footballer mansions because of the poor quality of smaller units.

11

Should we seek to increase minimum densities at sustainable locations in the urban areas, such as in town centres and at train stations, above 40 dwellings per hectare, where this would not impact on local character?

  • Yes (If yes, what density do you think would be appropriate?)
  • No
  • Don’t know

Please explain your answer
Creativity needs to be applied here and some landmark buildings constructed which not only provide many new homes but also do credit to the Borough's architectural heritage.

12a

Within the three key strategic areas we will be exploring opportunities for accommodating our development needs taking into account site constraints, land ownership, compliance with other planning policies and the need to support sustainable development.  If potential housing sites are identified within these areas, do you consider it appropriate to

a. deliver at higher densities i.e. above 40 dwellings per hectare, in order to maximise delivery?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Local roads are already inadequate. Hundreds of new residents will merely add to local traffic chaos.

12b

Within the three key strategic areas we will be exploring opportunities for accommodating our development needs taking into account site constraints, land ownership, compliance with other planning policies and the need to support sustainable development.  If potential housing sites are identified within these areas, do you consider it appropriate to:

b. Support lower density developments that maintain the open character of an area and reflects the surrounding character

 

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Inadequate, flawed analysis used to recommend Parcels 14 and 20 which in reality are not suitable.

13

Agree with our approach to continue to apply Policy CS21 of the Core Strategy e.g. consider on a case by case basis whether local circumstances are sufficient to warrant the requirement of affordable housing contributions on all sites where there is a net increase in housing and where it is viable?

 

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • I don't know

Please explain your answer
Affordable housing is needed to support local services, but allocation must be given on a case by case basis. Affordable housing is not a Right!

14

Are there any other aspects of Government policy which you think we should consider with regard to meeting the accommodation needs of non-travelling Travellers?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

15

Do you consider there to be any other specific housing needs that are an issue within Elmbridge and that we should seek to address as part of the new Local Plan?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

16

Do you agree that the Council should seek to protect our most important and strategic employment areas from redevelopment to uses other than offices, warehousing and factories?

 

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • I don't know

Please explain your answer
All plans have to be financed and finance is best derived from employment.

17

If not, what degree of flexibility do you consider would be appropriate with regard to alternative uses in such areas?

«No response»

18

Do you think that there are any exceptional circumstances that would support the amendment of the Green Belt boundary at Brooklands to support the further development of employment uses at this site?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Maximum use must be made of a major source of employment which has a name that is recognised around the world.

19

Other than Green Belt what other barriers do you consider could prevent further development at Brooklands?

Access from the A3 is deplorable and will be made worse by the proposed M25/A3 junction improvements which are said to rely on the rephasing of the traffic lights at the A245/Seven Hill Road junction to solve the congestion issue.

20

We will seek to maintain our broad support for tourism related development as set out in the Core Strategy. However, to recognise the importance of Sandown Park Racecourse as both a sporting and exhibition venue should we:

Encourage the redevelopment of Sandown Racecourse to provide improved and extended conference and hotel facilities?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Known around the world and must not be allowed to become tacky and run down.

21a

Maintain our policy of focussing new retail development to town and village centres?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Larger purchases such as furniture and major electronic goods require good on site parking. Town and Village parking charges are killing off trade - especially noticeable in Kingston at the Eden Centre. Free parking will bring trade into the Borough.

21b

Continue to protect primary shopping areas from other uses as set out in the current Core Strategy?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
High Street shopping should be encouraged.

21c

Consider allowing other important uses in primary high street shopping frontages such as doctor’s surgeries, dentists and libraries?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

22

Should the Council continue to give a high level of protection to all open spaces and designate those spaces that meet the criteria for Local Green Spaces?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

23

Do you agree with our approach to biodiversity and mitigating the impact of new development on the Thames Basin Heaths habitat?

 

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

24

Do you agree that our strategic and pro-active approach to supporting our heritage assets is appropriate?

  • Yes, I agree
  • No, I disagree
  • I don't know

Please explain your answer
«No response»

25

If not, what approach do you think we should take?

«No response»

26

Do you agree that the Council’s current approach to considering design and character is appropriate?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Far too many housing developments have been allowed which use block and render with slate roofs rather than the brick and clay tile that was once a feature of Surrey properties.

27

If not what approach do you think we should take?

Local materials for local properties, not cheap imports from China and Mexico.

28

Should we look at including a policy providing more detailed advice on what is required to limit the cumulative impact of small scale development on flood risk?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Every planning application needs to be scrutinised for it's contribution to flood risk. Study the effect of recently built mansions on Icklingham Road Cobham. Although close to the top of the hill, they are causing flooding on adjoining roads as well as contributing to the town centre problem

Redevelopment of the Cobham White Lion site is typical of how the concreting over of our land is adding to the flood risk and the further complication in this case of retrospective approval being sought for underground car parking.

29

Do you consider the existing policies seeking to reduce the impacts of new development with regard to delivering more sustainable travel patterns outlined above are still appropriate?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
The car is here to stay and any plan that seeks to eliminate it is doomed to failure. The parking issue on many new developments is testimony to the folly of such an approach as is the myth of residents walking or cycling to work etc.Local bus services are inadequate.

30

Are there other approaches we should consider?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't Know

Please explain your answer
Plan for vehicles and improve local bus services.

31

What do you consider to be the essential infrastructure items required to support new communities e.g. the potential development of the 3 key strategic areas?

Provision of a local road network which addresses the problem of pinch points on every road into and out of Cobham with due regard to the many schools which add to traffic delays.

Provision of addition Health Care facilities including doctors Surgeries and a hospital based walk in medical facility.

Cobham is overburdened with private schools and any additional educational facilities should be based at one or more of these establishments.

32

What smaller infrastructure improvements do you think could be made within your local area to address some of the negative impacts arising from new development?

Tree planting alongside the A3

33

We recognise that there may be other issues or options we have not considered that you would like to raise. If there are we would like to hear these and consider them as part for this consultation. Please use this space to write anything else you would like us to consider.

 

Freehold quality 2 bedroom homes for older people in none polluted areas.

Road improvements for Cobham - solve the school run traffic problem.

Improve local bus services. EBC is proud that Walton is the boroughs largest shopping centre but Cobham residents cannot get there by bus.

Examine the need for transport links to all major hospitals used by Cobham residents. Royal Surrey, Epsom, Kingston & St George's.

Elmbridge was excluded from the public consultation process for the new Heathrow Runway. EBC needs to take all aspects of the runway proposals into account. It should however be noted that it is alleged that no new housing will be required for the increased workforce. An assumption which is as flawed as the public Consultation Process.

34. Files

«No files»