Object

Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

Representation ID: 4743

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr David Rawlins

Representation Summary:

The peace, quiet, rural nature of the Parish is greatly valued by residents and much admired by visitors. Our quiet lanes are distinctive, used by many cyclists and roadside nature reserves are widespread. Our skies are dark. There is little noise. Development would destroy roads, views and hedgerows contrary to the Landscape Character Assessment, which is based on a distinctly different settlement (Thurleigh).

Full text:

Note the following statements in the assessment:
1E.1.37 Conserve and enhance surviving historic field boundaries and restore hedges where possible in areas of former ancient enclosures, while retaining the open character of areas which were formerly open field land.
1E.1.38 Enhance the hedgerows consistent management and resist development that will result in further loss/fragmentation of hedgerows and hedgerow trees. Encourage the growth of new hedgerow trees to maintain landscape structure and connectivity.
1E.1.42 Conserve the character of the rural roads and limit urbanising influences – widening/kerbing and ensure that traffic management measures are sympathetic to the rural character.
The Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the peace and quiet, open countryside views and very rural feel of our parish are of great value to all of us. We value our peace and quiet, the lack of litter, our dark night skies, and the lack of 'urban noise'. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other large sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening of these roads which would urbanise them and destroy valued hedgerows which is contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment.
The three hamlets of Staploe, Duloe and Honeydon (including Begwary) are very sparsely populated often with large gaps between homes and usually only with houses on one side of the road. All have wonderful countryside views from their gardens. This is different from a larger settlement such as Thurleigh on which the Landscape Character Assessment appears to be modelling future development.