1.34

Object

Representation ID: 3909

Received: 28/08/2021

Respondent: Mrs MARGARET TURNER

Regarding 1E.1.37, 1E.1.38 & 1E.1.42
Building a new settlement of 10800 houses in Parish will contravene all of these statements

Object

Representation ID: 3994

Received: 29/08/2021

Respondent: Mr Keith Turner

Regarding 1E.1.37, 1E.1.38 & 1E.1.42
Building a new settlement of 10800 houses in Staploe Parish will contravene all of these statements

Support

Representation ID: 4135

Received: 30/08/2021

Respondent: Mr paul giles

Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 4190

Received: 30/08/2021

Respondent: Mrs Gail Browning

With reference to 1E.1.37, 1E.1.38 & 1E.1.42 in the Bedford Borough Landscape Character Assessment, building 10800 houses would go against these guidelines – historic boundaries, hedgerows and conserving rural roads.

Object

Representation ID: 4246

Received: 30/08/2021

Respondent: Mr Fletcher Giles

Regarding 1E.1.37, 1E.1.38 & 1E.1.42
Building a new settlement of 10800 houses in Parish will contravene all of these statements

Object

Representation ID: 4328

Received: 31/08/2021

Respondent: Miss Helen Leach

Regarding 1E.1.37, 1E.1.38 & 1E.1.42
Building a new settlement of 10800 houses in Parish will contravene all of these statements.

Support

Representation ID: 4339

Received: 31/08/2021

Respondent: Mrs Gerardine Meola

Support; 1e.1.37, 1e,1.38, 1e,1.42.

Staploe Parish Councils emerging Neighbourhood Plan demonstrates that residents value the rural quality of the hamlet of Duloe. Development in Duloe : Cobholden Farm, Duloe Field, may require widening and urbanising of roads, destroying hedgerows, not in keeping with the points above. Our hamlet of Duloe is valued, it is a small (hamlet), of homes along highway with gaps between homes and large gardens, which have views over open countryside. This character should not be urbanised by small developments in it.

Access north site 977 will require new/widening/urbanising of roads through Duloe - urbanising - unacceptable.

Object

Representation ID: 4360

Received: 31/08/2021

Respondent: Miss Helen Leach

Regarding 1E.1.37, 1E.1.38 & 1E.1.42
Building a new settlement of 10800 houses in Parish will contravene all of these statements.

Object

Representation ID: 4424

Received: 31/08/2021

Respondent: Miss Andrea Witham

The peace, quiet, rural nature of the Parish is greatly valued by residents and widely admired by visitors. Our quiet lanes are distinctive, much used by cyclists and 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. It would ruin a precious corner of unspoilt countryside.

Object

Representation ID: 4466

Received: 31/08/2021

Respondent: Mrs Lucy Crawford

Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 4541

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Kathryn Smith

See above

Object

Representation ID: 4633

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Melvyn Chase

Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 4691

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Joshua Zwetsloot

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.

Object

Representation ID: 4726

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Professor Michael Jeferson

In July 2013 Bedford Borough Council issued “Allocations and Designations Local Plan”. There it set out Policy AD24 Green Infrastructure Opportunity Zones, and under section 7.1 gave as Zone 1: Milton Keynes to Grafham – Wooded Wolds. The emphasis was on linking woodlands and particularly “enhancing the strategic Three Shires Bridleway and Forty Foot Lane.” (page 53) More detail was provided on conserving ancient parkland, woodland, and the historic byway network of green lanes, while balancing access and recreational use.
3. Under Zone 2 the 2013 document recommended the Green Wheel project linking Bedford to surrounding villages through a network of green corridors. This recommendation would have a stronger logic if it specifically incorporated a network of links from Bedford to landscapes offering little or no visual intrusion of buildings or infrastructure for those enjoying the beauty and tranquillity, particularly walkers.
Among the documents linked to the Council’s Local Plan 2040 is the excellent “Bedford Borough Landscape Character Assessment”. This Report demonstrates a close knowledge of the landscapes, history, settlements and individual buildings in North Bedfordshire. In particular, the areas labelled Type 1B: Riseley Clay Farmland; and Type 2A: Hinwick Wooded Wolds. The Council’s Report highlights the rural, peaceful and remote feel of the area. It attracts walkers from a wide area – including Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, and Cambridgeshire – as well as locally. The description of the Hinwick Wooded Wolds area includes: “Network of footpaths and bridleways with Three Shires Way forming an important recreational route crossing the landscape. ”The Report alludes to occasional views of wind turbines, and here it may be appropriate to point out that annual average capacity factors achieved by these are below 25%, and not “at least 30%” as was claimed by developers and their advisors when seeking planning permission. [This writer pointed out this would be the case at the East Northamptonshire planning inquiry but was ignored.] The Report also mentions ground-based solar PV schemes for both areas (one already existing) but again it should be pointed out that such developments are unlikely to achieve annualised capacity factors much in excess of 10%. The current and likely future performance of both wind energy and ground-based solar PV schemes in the area are unlikely to make any significant contribution to the UK’s Net Zero ambitions by 2035 (electricity generation) or 2050 (net emissions).

Object

Representation ID: 4743

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr David Rawlins

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).

Object

Representation ID: 4844

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Jennie Diston

Building of further houses in and around Shortstown would be in conflict to the development guidelines highlighted in the landscape character assessment. Views of mid greensand ridge would be obsured. The open landscape setting of the cardington airship sheds would not be conserved. The conservation of the dispersed pattern of settlements would be affected. We also need to preserve and enhance existing woodland e.g. Shocott Spring.

Object

Representation ID: 4879

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Ms Tara Skey

The rural character of Staploe parish is greatly valued by residents and visitors from St Neots. Rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, the hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 4975

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Julia Willison

Staploe Parish neighbourhood plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by our residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our Hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh ( the model settlement given for our landscape type ).

Object

Representation ID: 4976

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Chris Giles

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.

Object

Representation ID: 5178

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Ian Francis

Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by
residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large
new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field
and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary
to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than
Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 5488

Received: 06/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Stuart Ledwich

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 would 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.

Object

Representation ID: 5585

Received: 06/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Julie Kilby

I 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.

Object

Representation ID: 5635

Received: 07/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Phillip Yockney

Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 5687

Received: 07/09/2021

Respondent: Miss amber scally

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.

Object

Representation ID: 5740

Received: 07/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Hannah Hambleton-Jewell

I 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.

Object

Representation ID: 5776

Received: 07/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Gillian Tagg

I 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 my 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 can be managed 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 would necessitate widening of these roads which would urbanise them and destroy valued verges and hedgerows which is contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. I 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.
100-word Summary
Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature, and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 5847

Received: 08/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Norman Hoy

I 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.
100 Word Summary
Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Support

Representation ID: 5920

Received: 08/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Tom Tagg

The LCA is an excellent document and I fully support its approach and purpose, namely:
• The landscape character approach considers that all landscapes are valuable and seeks to protect their essential character.
• The purpose of landscape character assessment is to help ensure that change and development does not undermine whatever is characteristic or valued about a particular place and ensure that ways of improving the character of a place can be considered.
• 1.4 The revised NPPF, published in June 2019, states at paragraph 170 that: “Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment…”
• 1.5 The LCA helps meets the principles and requirements of the NPPF. It recognises the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and values of the landscape and will enable planning to take account of the different characters of the landscape within the borough.
Area 1D Thurleigh Clay Farmland is of particular relevance to the proposed Dennybrook development:
• 1D2 notes that the area is dominated by arable farmland with a few scattered woodlands (including ancient woodland) giving some variety, and crowning the horizon in long views across the level fields. The large fields are bounded by hedges and ditches, ….. Tributary valleys cross the area to the east forming a focus for settlement of scattered farmsteads and small villages ….. A network of quiet rural lanes connects the settlements and provide an important resource for informal recreation.
• 1D3 notes that farmland habitats include arable field margins, hedgerows, ponds, ditches and improved grassland. …. Wetland habitats include minor tributaries of the River Great Ouse, woodland and farmland ponds and field ditches. Remnant areas of unimproved grassland persist, for example, along road verges …
The overall Landscape Strategy for Thurleigh Clay Farmland character area is to:
• Enhance the elements of the landscape which are in declining condition or detract from the rural character, in particular the hedgerows and hedgerow and field trees.
• At the same time conserving and enhancing the open rural landscape with its scattered small scale settlements and farmsteads, and historic earthworks and ancient woodlands of high biodiversity value.
• 1D.1.34: 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 Development Guidelines at 1D.1.35-37 are therefore to:
• Resist any development that will result in further loss/fragmentation of hedgerows and hedgerow trees…
• Conserve the scattered farmsteads and historic villages… and the views to the stone churches.
• Retain the individual settlements avoiding merging these through linear development…
The Dennybrook development of 10,800 houses and 20,000+ cars will entirely destroy all the aspects of the area that the LCA recommend are retained, maintained and enhanced. Gone will be the farmland, the open character and views. The scattered farmsteads and historic villages will be swallowed up. Gone will be the biodiversity and wildlife. Gone will be the quiet rural roads. This will all be in direct contravention of the NPPF at para 170.

Object

Representation ID: 5967

Received: 08/09/2021

Respondent: Staploe Parish Council

I 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.

Our Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the peace and quiet, open countryside views and rural feel of our parish are of great value by myself and local residents and the key reason we purchased our property in Honeydon back in 2007, plus having the opportunity of e a small holding. 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. I also strong believe if this development goes ahead many of these protected habitats will be destroyed. 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.
100 Word Summary
Our Staploe Parish Neighbourhood Plan survey demonstrated that the rural feel of our parish is greatly valued by residents. Our rural lanes are a distinctive local feature and many have roadside nature reserves. Developing a large new town of Dennybrook (site 977) or other sites in Duloe such as Cobholden, Manor Farm, Duloe Field, Flints Field and Top Homes may necessitate widening and urbanisation of these roads and destroy valued hedgerows - contrary to the comments in this landscape character assessment. Also, our hamlets are much more sparsely populated than Thurleigh (the model settlement given for our landscape type).

Object

Representation ID: 6008

Received: 08/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Christina Farmer

I did not agree that this Issues and Options consultation was sound or fair. I agree with Staploe Parish Council who responded to question 4 as follows: “Staploe Parish Council object in the strongest terms to the suggestion in the brown option that our parish is a brownfield site or under utilised land. Our whole parish is classed as open countryside for planning purposes. Our three tiny hamlets are not even classed as a small settlement in the Local Plan 2030 definition (6.21) and we are therefore defined as open countryside. We feel that describing the brown option which would see the majority of our parish covered in a large scale, high density, urban development as using brownfield or under utilised land is very misleading. We believe this could compromise the validity of the consultation as those responding would logically propose development on brownfield or under-utilised land over greenfield sites.

We believe the pros and cons list for the brown option is very inaccurate for our parish. A large development in Staploe parish would not support services etc in Bedford – we are 13 miles away and people would use services in St. Neots which are already under pressure due to large scale development on the eastern side of the town. There would be very little potential for residents here to make sustainable travel choices – we have one bus on Thursday and it would require huge investment to improve public transport. This would not reduce the need for growth in rural areas – we are a rural area and it proposes building all over our parish. Development in our parish would not improve viability of retail and leisure in Bedford Borough. People would go to St. Neots.”

We still feel that this is a fair reflection that the issues and options consultation was flawed because it led people to believe that our rural parish was urban with underutilised or brownfield land which is very far from the case.

It is unusual to for a draft Local Plan to attempt a review of the strategic growth for the borough whilst at the same time reviewing certain planning policies that will support the Local Plan going forward. It may be through deciding the strategic growth of the borough that additional or existing policies need reviewing. For example, should the growth strategy employ a rail based growth strategy (e.g. new settlement at Little Barford linking to the East West rail station to the south of St Neots) then there may be a need for a specific rail based policy. Policy 90S of the adopted Local Plan identifies the infrastructure that may come forward as part of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc as well as supporting identified allocations. However, a separate rail based specific policy intervention may be required should the growth strategy around rail as a ‘sustainable’ form of growth be selected. Nevertheless, BBC need to be confident that the growth options identified within the draft Local Plan, or indeed any other suitable growth strategy that might be applied, reflects the current policies within the adopted Local Plan and those that are currently subject to consultation.

In addition, the issues and options consultation was conducted during the covid pandemic when it was not possible to meet more than 6 people outside. We believe this was reflected in the responses: Number of respondents = 315
• 222 were from within the borough – out of a total estimated population of 174,687. This is a pitiful 0.12% response rate
• 93 were from outside the Borough or did not give a postcode
• 53% were from individuals.
Top areas for numbers of responses:
• Bedford 46
• Sharnbrook 23
• Staploe 18 (a 6% response rate which was 50 times the Borough average)
• By contrast – no other areas were in double figures. This brings into further question the validity of the consultation. We believe Bedford Borough Council should be arguing for an extension of time such that the Local Plan 2030 remains “in date” for another year to enable proper consultation, to allow the East West rail route to be announced and for the Oxford Cambridge Arc to decide about development corporations.

1.33 100 word summary


I believe that the Issues and Options consultation was invalid. It represented growth in our parish as “urban growth” showing our whole parish as brown – urban land on brownfield or under utilised land. This is profoundly untrue. Our parish is entirely rural and classed as open countryside and is all utilised as high quality agricultural land (grade 2).

We would also call into question the effectiveness of the issues and options consultation as only 0.12% of the population responded.

A rail based growth strategy policy may be required if growth is to be located around rail.

1.34 Landscape Character Assessment – LUC

I 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.