Thank you for providing the opportunity to comment on your proposed submission of the "Development and Site Allocations Local Plan"

Our comments relate solely to Fairlight Cove as covered in paras 11.101 to 11.128.

It is stated that the Core Strategy requirement is for 37 dwellings in the village from large sites. 16 dwellings will be provided at the former Market Garden site. That leaves 21 to be to be built in the village. The proposed allocation for the East Field site is for 30 houses. No explanation is given for this increase in the number of dwellings for the village as a whole and the East Field site is not in the village.

The number of dwellings to be built is of paramount importance because of the extra strain it will put on the local resources. As you state the village has a limited range of services, very limited in some respects such as no primary school, no railway station, and an inadequate bus service. Additionally, the road infrastructure is unsuitable for multiple construction vehicles, is poorly maintained by ESCC Highways and is not capable of carrying any additional traffic volumes.

The East Field site is, as you acknowledge, within the AONB boundary. Whilst the proposed submission is dismissive of the importance of this, this view is not shared by all and in particular we draw your attention to the letter from the ESCC County Landscape Architect regarding the planning application Ref. RR/2018/2726/P made by Welbeck for a larger development on the same site.

Part of the attraction of an AONB is not only its visual appearance from within its boundaries but also from other vantage points. The proposed permitted 30 dwellings and doctor's surgery would be predominantly visible from both the eastern end of the Hastings Country Park and the western end of Cliff End, both viewpoints on the Saxon Shore Way.

The proposed vehicular access point to the East Field site adjacent to "Robins Croft" and the pedestrian crossing are unsafe for both vehicle occupants and pedestrians. The speed of traffic along this section of road and the proximity to the blind bend to the east and the junction with Rosemary lane make it extremely unwise to designate this as the access point.