QUESTION 27: Do you agree with the preferred sites for housing development at Bexhill? If not, which site(s) should be preferred?

I do not agree with the proposal of Spindlewood Drive (BX116) as an option for potential housing development.
I believe there are more suitable areas in Bexhill that would cope better with a development of this size.
Any development around Spindlewood Drive should be on a much smaller scale and in keeping with the surrounding housing, similar to the developments that have taken place over the years, namely Hazelwood Close, Old Harrier Close and Spindlewood Drive itself. All these developments were very much in keeping with the surrounding area with housing that has been of high specification, and has also met the needs of the local population. Proof of this being that they have all been marketed, sold very easily, and continued to do so.

Another reason why I do not agree is because Barnhorn Green has been given approval for a development of 342 dwellings. Bexhill has not seen a development on such a scale for some years and the effects such a development would have on the surrounding area. To have another development within such close proximity to this, going ahead at the same time, would be a huge strain on both the main and access roads. This is not only at the time of commencement of the building development, it will continue until its completion. A massive upheaval for all local residents and general road users.

Since the new link road was built (Coombe Valley Way), Barnhorn Road has changed. The traffic has escalated and congestion at Little Common, where the A259 from Hastings meets the roundabout, is immense and not only at peak times. It will be interesting to see if the traffic lights proposed on the A259 at Barnhorn Road ease traffic flow, therefore allowing local residents to access the main road and travel around without issue.

Any further development would certainly over develop the area and there is not the infrastructure to cope with the high volume demands of all this. There is not the infrastructure of schools, or local doctors surgeries to cope with such a large dynamic change to Little Common. The schools and doctors surgeries are overflowing and are not coping with what they have in place at this time.

I would however, agree with the development of North Bexhill, BEX3. The proposal of the preferred Option 1, which includes plans for 450 dwellings, has the infrastructure. Some of this is already in place with the new link road, and the development plans include a school, a doctor's surgery and local shops. There is also the potential to develop this further in the future (Options 2 and 3).