About a year ago we reported here that a planning application for a site for travelling show people in Goldsmith Drive , Rawreth, was refused for Green Belt ard road access reasons.
A new application has now been submitted – application number 13/00118/COU – and you can find the details (and submit comments) here.
I have looked at the details and have lodged an objection to this. This is not appropriate for greenbelt, that remains unchanged from the original application.
I agree with Christine Paine, this is not appropriate for greenbelt, and does remain unchanged from the original application.
The submitted plans give little detail regarding access and egress from the site by large showman’s vehicles, some of which can be 15 metres long. They often tow a touring caravan, three of which are shown on the plans. My guess is that as there are only parking spaces for two cars on the site, this would be the case.
This access/egress problem also has a bearing on Hullbridge Road and the current issue of speeding motorists. To turn lorries of this size into and out of Goldsmith Drive would mean taking up the whole width of Hullbridge Road and as things stand would create a dangerous situation. I raise this as I often use Goldsmith Drive to visit a relative and I have experienced the dangers. Only last week I was travelling north along Hullbridge Road and indicating to turn left into Goldsmith Drive. I always slow down to about 3mph before turning due to the fact that the corner is blind and other vehicles could be leaving. Goldsmith Drive is very narrow with no pavement and pedestrians could be in the road and lastly, turning onto an unmade gravel road at speed could cause loss of grip and skidding. I am making this point as behind me at the time was a white van travelling at high speed with a driver who obviously felt inconvenienced by my slow approach. He slammed on his brakes and sounded his horn as if to indicate that I was in the wrong. With idiots like that about, Hullbridge Road needs a 30 mph speed limit.
Finally, back to the planning application, what is proposed in the way of sanitary arrangements? Contamination of land will also be a problem where the vehicles are to be stored and maintained and with three static caravans and three touring vans but only parking for two cars this is not realistic!
There is also a recreation space very close to the road, what will that be used for and will it create a nuisance to neighbours? Lots of negatives and I repeat “it is not appropriate for the greenbelt”.
I hope residents of Hullbridge and Rawreth reading this will also consider responding to the Rochford District Council as this is a second attempt to place a gypsy/traveller site at this location. There are many sites in our parishes that could be suitable for such a site and we should not allow this to set a precedent.
This matter is on the Planning Agenda for Rayleigh Town Council on Monday. This meeting can only make suggestiions to the District Council but members of the public are allowed at the meeting to voice their concerns. 7.30 Pavilion King George Playing Field.
Greenbelt pretty much covers all the problems I saw with the application, apart from the so-called sustainable drainage system, which no doubt would discharge groundwater (and god know what else) into local streams which already regularly flood.
The Town Council unanimously voted for this application be recommended for rejection by District Council.