I note from para 4.9 that, according to the South East Plan "the single most critical issue that has emerged throughout the Plan's preparation is the inadequacy of infrastructure provision to keep pace with new development. The legacy of past underinvestment in the region not only has an adverse impact on the economic performance of the region, but increases environmental impacts and reduces quality of life".
In spite of this statement and the reference in 7.4 to the key issue of traffic congestion and in spite of the aims and objectives set out in 7.5 (i) to (iv), all of which are linked directly or indirectly to the question of Transport and Car Parking, the document only devotes 3 paragraphs to the subject.
7.18 I can't see the inhabitants of Blackfriars walking to Budgen's for their shopping. See below for suggestion of a park and ride at Blackfriars with battery-powered buses.
7.35 to 7.37. There are references to car parking and transport elsewhere in the document e.g.box 13 (d) but the recommendations are so general as to mean very little, while the sections on housing, employment and retail go into considerable detail. In fact, almost all of the strategy must depend on finding a solution to the traffic problem; how else are we going to be able to reconcile enhanced commercial and tourism attractiveness with increased housing growth? Or maintain the town's physical identity and key characteristics which contribute to the AONB? My own suggested improvements are as follows:
7.35 The strategy covers a period of 18 years. This is a long way ahead. It is therefore putting our heads in the sand to dismiss the idea of a by-pass or other radical solutions and rely entirely on the Bexhill-Hasting Link Road and A21 improvements to reduce the amount of traffic. The document does not say how to utilise the "reduction in traffic resulting from the Link road to reduce congestion" (Box 13 (d) (iii)). Nor does the document have any suggestions about the traffic if the Link does not have the desired effect. It would surely be prudent at least to recommend the identification of a by-pass route which would cause the least environmental damage. And until we see if the Link does reduce traffic, it cannot be right to build new houses even on the scale proposed.
7.36 It is right to improve accessibility by alternatives to the car. We can surely foresee the arrival of battery-powered small local buses within the next 18 years (I have already seen them used at tourist sites in India) and one answer to car-parking is to provide park and ride at each end of the town. On the west side of the town, one might be near the pub (The Squirrel Inn) by the junction of the B2096 and the A271 or by the Solar Research centre which has sprung up in the AONB (I assume) at the junction of the A271 and the B2204. A parking place north of the North Trade road and west of London Road (A2100) would not need to be park and ride and would not be too central. Another park and ride might be on the south east - the Breadsell Farm area? Blackfriars? Near the business parks in Marley Lane? Park and ride parks could be for visitors while Mount Street might be reserved for residents of Battle CP.
7.37 only recommends that there should be more car-parking in Battle whereas surely what we should be trying to achieve is fewer cars in Battle, not only to reduce congestion but also pollution; there is no mention of the unhealthy effects of pollution by the present heavy traffic in a narrow street nor its contribution to climate change.( I note 3.2 which says Integral to this [the need to provide the best possible quality of life] must be a greater awareness of, and a sharper response to, global warming and climate change. I therefore object to the suggestion there should be additional provision for car and coach parking in the Town Centre and at Battle Abbey (Box 13 (e) (i) )
The strategy document should recommend that heavy lorries should be discouraged from transiting Battle; that the A271 and the A2100 should be downgraded to B roads and there should be weight restrictions on lorries coming through Battle. If the forecasts are correct and the the Bexhill/Hastings link road and the A21 improvements do actually provide a good alternative to transiting Battle, this should cause no problems.
The width of Battle High Street should be restricted further to provide more room for pedestrians and to discourage heavy lorries (apart from deliveries). There should be no parking for private cars but only for commercial vehicles with business in the High Street for limited periods (eg half an hour). Battle CP residents would use Mount Street car park where there should be more places reserved for blue badge holders; or park and ride.
7.38 The strategy document considers the longer term. There seems no reason therefore why there should not be positive support in the document for a swimming pool in Battle. I object to the idea of using the field around the Old Mill in north Battle for a children's playing area because it has just been made into a wild flower meadow.