We clearly recognise the need for some development particularly affordable housing, but the proposed site should meet a number of criteria, regrettably the site fails to meet most of the criteria. Our reasons are made below.

The road access onto the A268 from a development as large as 45 houses should have a clear sight line in both directions. The destruction of Pippins to make way for an entry point does not meet the criterion as traffic approaching from the Cock Hill does not have a sufficient line of sight because of the brow of the hill and the road curvature. The line of sight is reduced as driers have to be aware of traffic accessing the road from the Old House and Forstals Farm Lane and from the Cock Inn often with caravans and from surrounding houses. The A268 is a very busy road especially during the summer months with motorbikes and cars heading to Camber Sands.

At certain times this traffic can be temporarily blinded when coming out of the shade over the brow of the hill into bright sunlight straight down the road.
Traffic approaching from the south east is largely unsighted by the curvature of the road especially as it is likely to create a traffic hazard even for vehicles adhering to the speed limits.

A well designed access is important for the safety and convenience of all road users. those who will be turning onto the highway as well as those entering the road into the estate. A dedicated waiting area for vehicles intending to turn into estate requires enough room to prevent vehicles queuing back onto the main road. Visibility from the estate road will be poor due to residents/visitors cars parked in Main Street due to lack of parking or no parking at their properties.

The access road leading to estate will be a short proportion of single track, will this include footpaths either side, does the single track have the capacity for the amount of cars as well as service vehicles. If no road marking what effect will it have on driver behaviour. What disabled requirements will be put in place for entering and leaving the estate.

The Gradient of the estate is trying to drive out when the roads are icy.
The surface water is a problem. This area is very poorly drained so with a further 1.5 ha covered with buildings and hard surfaced road, the runoff could not be contained without a massive and expensive drainage programme. Failure to implement proper drainage before the housing development is likely to result in the sort of flooding experienced in Farleys Way.

The sheer size of the proposed development is most likely to overwhelm the present sewerage infrastructure. An increased sewage capacity must be installed before further development.

The impact on Amenity development should impact as little as possible on the existing amenities.

The proposal is outside the planning boundaries pertaining when people purchased the adjoining houses, the reasonable expectation of no disturbance is thus denied.
This disturbance would be exacerbated by the proposal in siting a common walkway at the end of the gardens of those houses along Griffin Lane, and the properties on the part line of the vehicular access road. The houses in Main Street would become a dumping ground for undesirable rubbish.

Amenity of neighbouring properties needs to be carefully considered in relation to issues such as loss of light and privacy, avoiding an overbearing presence and otherwise causing instruction such as through noise, activity at unsocial hours and lighting.

Particular care needs to be taken to ensure that play spaces for children will be safe (a proposal of 2 ponds and old decaying orchard). Nuisance to surrounding properties has to be avoided.

If the single track road into the estate needs attention at any time, will the road be cut off to fire engines, ambulances.