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

1. THE GOVERNMENT'S EMPHASIS AND URGENCY FOR THE NEED OF A CONSIDERABLY ENHANCED HOUSING STOCK IS NOT DISPUTED. HOWEVER, I CONSIDER BEX9/BX116 UNSUITABLE BECAUSE:

a. LITTLE COMMON LACKS THE SUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE. BOTH THE LITTLE COMMON SURGERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL ARE CLOSE TO CAPACITY AND THERE ARE NO LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS. THERE ARE FEW JOB PROSPECTS OR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA. IT HAS INADEQUATE ACCESS TO/FROM COODEN SEA ROAD/MEADS ROAD/MAPLE WALK.

b. IT WILL INCREASE CONGESTION ON THE A259 PARTICULARLY ON THE APPROACHES TO AND AT THE LITTLE COMMON ROUNDABOUT. THIS IS EXACERBATED AS THIS IS ON THE MAIN EMERGENCY ROUTE BETWEEN THE CONQUEST HOSPITAL AND EASTBOURNE D.G.H. AND SO CONSISTENTLY USED BY AMBULANCES. IT WOULD BE FURTHER EXACERBATED BY THE PROPOSED BARNHORN ESTATE AND THE BARNHORN ROAD TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

c. THERE ARE SERIOUS CAR PARKING ISSUES AROUND LITTLE COMMON PRECINCT WITH FREQUENT AND BLATANT BREACHES OF PARKING LAWS - PEOPLE DOUBLE PARK OR PARK ON DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. THIS HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED BY LOCAL EMPLOYEES WHO WORK NEAR THE JUNCTION WITH COODEN SEA ROAD AND PARK AROUND THERE INSTEAD OF IN THE PREVIOUSLY FREE CAR PARK (BX10) BEHIND ST MARTHA'S CHURCH. SO REVERT THE CAR PARK TO FREE USE OR ENFORCE PARKING RESTRICTIONS.

d. THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE PEVENSEY ROUNDABOUT AND BEXHILL/HASTINGS WILL INCREASE BOTH THE USE OF NORMANS BAY/SLUICE LANE/HERBRAND WALK AS A SHORT CUT/RAT RUN AND THE CONSEQUENT INHERENT DANGERS.

e. THE MAPLE ROAD/SPINDLEWOOD DRIVE JUNCTION IS VERY TIGHT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES THAT PARK ON IT. NEAR COLLISIONS ARE A DAILY AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. ANY EXTRA VEHICLE MOVEMENT WILL MAKE THIS WORSE.

f. THE INCREASE OF TRAFFIC IN AND AROUND THE LITTLE COMMON ROUNDABOUT AND COODEN SEA ROAD WILL ENCOURAGE THE USE OF MEADS ROAD AND UNADOPTED MAPLE WALK TO BE USED AS A SHORT CUT/RAT RUN. THIS WOULD BE AT EXTREME INCONVENIENCE AND COST TO THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.

2. 1.A TO 1.F WOULD BE PARTLY ALLEVIATED BY ACCESS ON TO BARNHORN ROAD AS OPPOSED TO SPINDLEWOOD DRIVE.

3. THERE IS INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY POWER, WATER AND DRAINS. THESE WOULD NEED TO BE CONSIDERABLY ENHANCED.

4. THERE ARE INADEQUATE FACILITIES, E.G. SCHOOLS, G.P.'s, SHOPS.


5. THE EXTRA TRAFFIC WILL REDUCE THE AIR QUALITY AND WILL INCREASE POLLUTION CONTRARY TO GOVT STANDARDS.

6. EITHER BX124 OR BX101 WOULD BE A MORE SUITABLE SITE BECAUSE IN EACH CASE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOCAL FACILITIES ARE BETTER AND, FOR THE FORMER, ITS ROAD AND RAIL CONNECTIONS ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND CONVENIENT.

7. CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT THIS SITE WILL ENCROACH ON THE RAMSAR SITE.