My Objection to the latest changes to the Brimsham Development

My objections to the latest Heron proposals for changes to their development. Burying cables and increasing the intensity of housing in certain areas. It still misses the point about lack of road infrastructure and or public transport.

I object to the changes to these plans on the following basis.

1.   Traffic – Road infrastructure cannot cope with increase in traffic.

This development when taken together with other recent and planned developments at Chipping Sodbury and Yate will increase traffic in the Sodbury/Yate area by adding 8000 residents with 24000 extra journeys. The majority of this traffic will head for Bristol from this development via Randolph Avenue, Leach Pool lane and Peg hill, Via Iron Acton, Winterbourne and Coalpit Heath and end up in the heavily congested North Bristol Area.

2.   Site Access -Increased risk of danger to Children

The plans will still require heavy construction vehicles to travel very quiet roads that are crossed by children travelling to and from the local Brimsham Green Secondary school and Yate Outdoor sports facility. Without additional lights or crossings this is likely to result in accidents.

3.   Intensification of the Development – Drainage and Skyline issues

The changes to the plan move blocks of 3 storey houses closer to the Long Croft Road community. This will not only impact the skyline but could have an impact on water drainage to the site. As highlighted in the Environmental Statement.

4.   Development traffic flow impeded

The original design (DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT_-_PART_7) document described “…attractive well connected, permeable street networks that encourage most people to walk or cycle to local destinations…” The changes, which seem to be a response to builders’ commercial concerns, remove the connection bit, impeding access to most of the North East quadrant of the development.

5.   Funding – Developers obligations not effectively directed

I believe some the funding being proposed £2,140,000 towards the cost of new bus services and £5,527,000 towards the cost of

Off -site highway improvements would be better spent on a North Yate Train stop adjacent to the development. Increasing bus services on already congested roads will not encourage people to use them. Increasing the size of roads is shown to increase the traffic (M25 effect)thus causing increased congestion and pollution.

A new North Yate train station would have the added advantage of making the industrial units more attractive to prospective clients and the homes to new residents. They would provide wider access to the Yate Outdoor Sports facility and could move as much as 50% of the work related travel on to the trains.

Planning Re Conultation Letter for Herons North Yate Development

Just recieved an update on the Heron Planning application for North Yate. I understand this may involve changes to the Power Lines across the site.

Documents with a Reference of PK12/1913/O are available at
http://developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/. 

Most of the documents referencing the changes are dated 2014 at the bottom of the page.

The key document appears to be one titled "Large Document" . The link below if it works  is the main document that describes all the latest changes.Sections 7.7 (page 48) and 7.8 (Page 49) show the main changes in layout.
Beware this document is very large and takes a very long time to download. Make a cup of tea and have a slice of cake.

http://developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/files/7606F33D62AEB88385A7E629BAC9BF9F/pdf/PK12_1913_O-LARGE_DOCUMENT-REVISED_DESIGN___ACCESS_STATEMENT-4887503.pdf


PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE comment on the documents before 25/11/2014 it gives everyone another chance to register our concerns about the development. these changes could reduce the amount of green space and possibly fragment it so making less usable. I'm not sure if putting high voltage cables underground will make much difference.

The other main concern has to be traffic which was always the been a serious concern with this document.

 

Has Yate got a local plan??? 

If we have we can get more money out of the developers for local infrastructure - Is that right?
Draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). South Glocs Council are now consulting on this document that requires developers to pay for local infrastructure.

Read it and weep www.southglos.gov.uk/DraftCIL.
Prizes might be awarded for those with the strength and fortitude to send a response to the council. 

But be quick the consultation window is only  12^th May – 23^rd June 2014

www.facebook.com/BrimshamParkCommunityCampaign
Twitter @brimshamC

Travelling and Parking in Yate

 We would like to hear your views of what you feel the issues are now with parking and travelling in Yate and the surrounding areas. Do you feel there should be improvements before the housing development goes ahead?

Please let us know at

https://www.facebook.com/BrimshamParkCommunityCampaign

Please share this link with your friends and neighbours

Campaign Re-Launch 2014

With outline planning approval for the building of 2500 homes by Heron in North Yate now in place, we, the Brimsham Park campaigners have launched a Facebook page to keep everyone informed about our efforts to reduce the impact of the building works.

Unfortunately we have failed to stop the South Gloucester Core Strategy that put the land in the firing line for development. With Heron (North Yate) and Barrats(Peg Hill) between them planning to build around 3000 houses.

The focus of the new campaign is to keep an eye and ear on the developments and to influence the design to minimise the impact on Yate. We are also keen to act as a voice for the Community of Brimsham Park and North Yate.

If you have ideas, issues or observations with regard to the developments or the wider community facilities please let us know.

http://www.facebook.com/BrimshamParkCommunityCampaign

Press articles and other things

Please tell all friends and neighbours to attend if they can on Wednesday 20th July 2011 at 17:00, outside the South Glocs council offices in Nibley, in the estate opposite their New Offices in Yate for a photo for the Evening Post and possibly the Gazette.

Why?  To lobby the South Glocs Councillors and keep the issue in the press. There is plenty of car parking in front of the offices.

The councillors don't usually turn up till a bit later so we should have an opportunity to get pictures in front of the building with perhaps a couple of grumpy councillors walking by.

Other news.

• There will be an article in the Evening Post tomorrow, please look out for it.
• Signs will be appearing at all Yate town council parks across Yate in the notice boards advertising our campaign.
• An Application has gone in to build a "travellers site" somewhere between Herons proposed development, Tan house lane and Yate rocks. I have not looked at it yet but the  South Glocs Planning application reference is PT11/2001/F. I'm told its likely to have impact on the footpaths around the area and significantly increase traffic in a very rural area. Unfortunately the time for comments ends on 29/7/2011. Please note although you may have views about the type of people attracted to these sites, the council won't consider these views as it is considered descriminatory. They are only likely to consider objective issues likely infrastructure or environment.

South Gloucestershire Core Strategy Exploritory Meeting 28 June 2011

Attended the South Gloucestershire Core Strategy Exploritory Meeting 28 June 2011. The Core strategy is important as its the Councils overarching  planning document. If this can be delayed, new government legislation may give us the power to significantly affect any development.

1. The meeting was 3 hours long and focused on procedure rather than specific issues. It was a bit of an endurance test. Incredibly frustrating, as it focused on procedure, you really could not say what you wanted to, although a few people did, including me.

2. The first subject discussed was whether the councils consultation met with their legal obligations. It appeared that a QC was appointed by Britel Fund Trustees Ltd to argue the point. He seemed to make a valid case that initial consultations were stated as draft and that not all the documents were produced at the start of the consultation so people were not sure what they were commenting on. He stated that this meant the consultation did not meet the statutory obligations laid down in law.

3. The meeting then discussed housing with developers saying the numbers were too low and pressure groups including us saying they were too high. It felt like the suited developers were perched like vultures playing their own little game.

4. The green belt was mentioned then Filton Airfield. As the council had not yet met with British Aerospace. The Government Inspector agreed that he would defer his decision for 2- 3 weeks.

5. He stated that his decision would result in one of 3 outcomes. (1) use the core strategy as a working document and revise some things as they work with it as it will only be minor changes needed.(2) suspend the core strategy for anything up to 6months for further work to be done and take in Filton Airfield. (3) throw it out completely and wait for the Localism Bill to come into force. He will put his notes on the council web site.