Main Changes to Local Plan 2030

Comment ID MCLP/360
Document Section Main Changes to Local Plan 2030 Policy S51 - Aldington, Land North of Church View (MC94) Content [View all comments on this section]
Respondent Simon Foster [View all comments by this respondent]
Response Date 25 Aug 2017
To be "Sound" a Plan should be Positively Prepared, Justified, Effective and Consistent with National Policy
Do you consider that this ‘Main Change’ is sound? No
If you consider the ‘Main Change’ is unsound, on which grounds do you consider it so (see guidance)?
  • Not Positively Prepared
  • Not Justified
  • Not Consistent with national policy

Please set out your representation here, relating to "soundness". If applicable, what changes do you propose to make the document "sound"?

To help the independent Planning Inspector manage the examination, we ask that representations are concise and, where they are necessarily detailed, that you provide a concise summary setting out your main points.
Comment

The proposal is contrary to ABC policy SP7 and is directly contrary to the conclusions reached om Appendix 3D of the sustainability survey of sites in 2014 and the Village Protection Policy.

The site is not appropriate to any development for the following reasons.

The site:

  1. is visually intrusive - very visible from many viewpoints and over long distances and is difficult to screen.
  2. extends the village into rural land away from its core
  3. involves the loss of greenfield arable land
  4. has only very weak and inadequate landscape protections proposed for it
  5. erodes the separation of Aldington from Smeeth, contrary to ABC policy

The site is not sustainable because of poor infrastructure. 

The village has:

  • very infrequent buses on weekdays only
  • poor, narrow roads into the village which have single passing in places. The principal access is via two narrow bridges
  • no GP surgery
  • a village school which is already at capacity

The proposal will result in further car traffic putting further pressure on the village

The proposal will result in urban density development in a rural area. Aldington has already had more than its share of recent development which threatens its village character.Any further development should be limited to one-off, infill single dwellings within the built centre of the village.
Attachments
Do you consider it necessary to participate at the oral part of the examination? No
Does your representation relate to a new or a previously-submitted omission site?
  • Not Applicable
If you have previously commented on the Local Plan, as a result of this ‘Main Change’ do you wish to withdraw, replace or add to any previous comments?
  • Not Applicable – this is a new representation
Do you consider that this ‘Main Change’ is Legally Compliant in accordance with the relevant regulations?
  • No

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