I reiterate the view of the SPC in this matter.
Staploe Parish Council 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.
Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the peace and quiet, open countryside views and rural
feel of our parish are of great value to our residents. In addition, our single track, often high sided lanes and roads are
a distinctive local feature. Many have roadside nature reserves due to the rare plants present such as Bath
Asparagus. The verges and hedges are cut as little as we can manage in order to maintain visibility and this has
enhanced them as green corridors and added to the rural feel of the area. 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. We would also like to point out that our
hamlets are very different to Thurleigh. Our 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 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.