Question 6 re. addressing poor connectivity with the wider region and London, localised congestion and high reliance on car use

Comment

Representation ID: 18509

Received: 30/11/2006

Respondent: HOWARD HUTTON & ASSOCIATES

Agent: HOWARD HUTTON & ASSOCIATES

Infrastructure
We are promoting the concept of 'deficit planning'. At present allocations for development avoid areas where there are infrastructure deficits e.g. highway, drainage, flooding problems or contamination etc.

Allocations are often directed to areas where there is spare capacity which means it gets used up, often at no cost to the developer.

Deficit planning starts with a different question, namely 'Where are there problems in the District that additional development might resolve?

Developer funded by passes are an example of deficit planning. We feel that the idea could be used more widely to secure infrastructure improvements.

Comment

Representation ID: 18552

Received: 08/12/2006

Respondent: High Weald AONB Unit

Home working, flexible working habits and live-work units could protentially provide a significant element of working premises and options. Such faciltiies are part of the changing pattern of employment and should be supported. Also local jobs for local people should be encouraged, particularly as regards local land based industries and land management.

Comment

Representation ID: 18577

Received: 29/01/2007

Respondent: Crowhurst Parish Council

We should accept commuting by car as a fact and facilitate it.

The most important transport links are A21, A22, rail links between London and Ashford via Crowhurst, freight by rail.

Rat runs bother villages; the link road will not relieve congestion

More police traffic patrol officers needed but police investment in this control method is not expected

Cheap/free bus services, especially to villages

Hospitals, shops, PO, chemist, doctors

Battle car parking charges; need clarity on where the money is reinvested

Not known; opportunities for small businesses essential

Comment

Representation ID: 18594

Received: 30/01/2007

Respondent: Beckley Parish Council

Beckley Parish Councillors would like a 30mph on Main Street and a reduction of the 60mph limit on Whitbread Lane. There is some local concern about the parking of cars on/near junctions, particularly Hobbs Lane and Whitbread Lane. More houses have been built where there was already a shortage of parking in this area. We would like to see ample rather than sufficient parking spaces provided in any future developments.

Comment

Representation ID: 18600

Received: 30/01/2007

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

¨ Rother has good rail connections but weak road links. Poor interconnection between rail services and other public transport.
¨ Bus services to do not cater for return travel to larger centres from villages for work and evening travel for young people.
¨ Local services are closing. Elderly residents are unwilling/unable to travel to larger centres for shops and services. Local services can limit daily car travel.

Comment

Representation ID: 18601

Received: 30/01/2007

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

¨ Lorries blight small villages and contribute to bottlenecks.
¨ Villages suffer speeding traffic and perceived accident danger. Highways do not always support parish-funded traffic calming schemes

Comment

Representation ID: 18602

Received: 30/01/2007

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

¨ Car ownership will rise as long as it is relatively cheap compared to inflexible and expensive public transport. Minimum car parking provision will have to be made with new housing.
¨ A clear policy for how parking revenue is used is needed. Over-pricing encourages on-street parking. Restrictions in residential areas could prevent all day parking by commuters.

Comment

Representation ID: 18603

Received: 30/01/2007

Respondent: Etchingham Parish Council

¨ IT will encourage more home working and less travel but not necessarily less business unit demand.

Comment

Representation ID: 18613

Received: 31/01/2007

Respondent: Ewhurst Parish Council

More work needs to be undertaken on integrating train and bus services. The A259 is overwhelmingly the most important transport link through then District, linking the eastern end with the A2070/M20 and Channel Ports. The congestion on the A259 (Rye) could be addressed with a by-pass.

Comment

Representation ID: 18625

Received: 31/01/2007

Respondent: Hastings Borough Council

Strong emphasis is placed on the importance of the A21/Queensway improvements and the provision of the Hastings/Bexhill Link Road in delivering the overall development strategy for the sub-region which is very strongly supported by HBC.

Comment

Representation ID: 18637

Received: 31/01/2007

Respondent: Rye Conservation Society

Poor transport links are major constraints upon growth, particularly the road network north and west of Hastings, and the infrequency of public transport services throughout the District. The LDF should seek to promote the upgrading of rail and bus services throughout the District.

Comment

Representation ID: 18655

Received: 01/02/2007

Respondent: Croudace Strategic Ltd

Agent: Charles Planning Associates Limited

The Core Strategy should reflect PPG13 and PPS3 principles which set out the need for new developments to be located in areas well served by public transport and other sustainable transport modes. By focussing developments in such areas, there will be a sustained demand for public transport and other sustainable transport modes, creating an impetus for continued improvements to the transport system.

New development can contribute towards improvements in the local transport infrastructure commensurate with the proposed level of development. However, there is a requirement for strategic transport improvements, and this requires commitment from central and regional government. However, it is considered that the District should capitalise on the existing transport infrastructure in the short term, and locate development in locations well served by public transport and other sustainable transport modes.

Comment

Representation ID: 18681

Received: 02/02/2007

Respondent: Rastrum Ltd.

Agent: DMH Stallard

Rastrum’s experience is that there are no significant problems with local congestion. Although recognising that perceived poor connectivity of the region needs to be addressed to attract outside investors, Rastrum is confident that the existing road network is capable of absorbing the extra traffic that the wharf expansion would generate.

It is important that the LDF addresses the need to reduce global carbon dioxide omissions, including by encouraging more sustainable means of transporting goods. The LDF should support the increased use of Rye Harbour, the only port in the district.

Comment

Representation ID: 18688

Received: 02/02/2007

Respondent: Mr. A. Miskin

Agent: DMH Stallard

We are strongly in support of the Hastings-Bexhill Link Road, and consider that this is critical for the present and future transport infrastructure of the local area. Existing transport links (such as the commuter flow to Hastings) should be encouraged.

Comment

Representation ID: 18707

Received: 05/02/2007

Respondent: Rye Conservation Society

The Regional Spatial Strategy recognises the linking of communities along the east-west coastal corridor to achieve regeneration. The Strategy must include improved transport links to allow people to access jobs and services. Better transport links open up employment opportunities, encourage business investment and reduce environmental damage from congestion. Links to Eastbourne and Ashford should be referenced.

The Eddington Review emphasises that a lack of road infrastructure investment is damaging economic growth. The road improvement schemes identified in the Document will be inadequate to rectify the historic lack of investment and the demands indicated for regeneration and growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 18709

Received: 05/02/2007

Respondent: Rye Conservation Society

In the absence of Bexhill-Hastings and Winchelsea-Rye bypasses, there are serious difficulties planning an effective east-west regional road network between Pevensey and Brenzett. The Core strategy must identify where substantial road infrastructure investment is needed to achieve its objectives, including:

· A21 Baldslow junction improvement to coincide with the Link Road
· A259 Bexhill St Leonards Road â€" Bulverhythe â€" West St Leonards improvements
· A259 diversion north around Winchelsea to eliminate dangerous decent and bend
· A259 junction with Rye Harbour Road
· A259 South Undercliff â€" Fishmarket Road: dangerous bend replaced with roundabout to serve Fishing Quay.

Comment

Representation ID: 18721

Received: 08/02/2007

Respondent: English Village Projects

Agent: Evison & Company

(a) The inadequacy of the A21 is a major deterrent to investment in the District.
(b) There is no excuse for the continuing delay to the dualling of the road
(i) between the A21(T) and the Pembury bypass
(ii) between the Pembury bypass and the Lamberhurst bypass
(iii) between the Lamberhurst bypass and Flimwell. The recent narrowing of the dualled section immediately north of Flimwell should be reversed.

In improving the A21 it will be important to monitor and control the potential impact of such improved accessibility to and from London upon the remoteness and tranquillity of the countryside between the A21 and the sea.

Comment

Representation ID: 18731

Received: 08/02/2007

Respondent: Mr Basil Streat

Can we not attend urgently to the parking problem and the operation of local transport?

Comment

Representation ID: 18734

Received: 08/02/2007

Respondent: Highways Agency

Against large developments occurring in Bexhill area in advance of completion of the Link Road.

There is tension between the need to provide sufficient parking to limit 'overspill' effects on the local network, but at the same time the oversupply of parking is likely to limit the effectiveness of demand management measures that are important in encouraging a reduction in travel and the use of sustainable modes. Demand associated with specific developments should be carefully managed. Take every opportunity to encourage the provision and use of sustainable transport modes.

Comment

Representation ID: 18746

Received: 09/02/2007

Respondent: Bexhill and District Gardens & Allotments Society

Greater provision should be made in terms of bus and rail services and increased concessions should be made to enable the aging population to have better and increased connections with all parts of Kent and East and West Sussex as well as northwards into Surrey and London.

Comment

Representation ID: 18755

Received: 09/02/2007

Respondent: PREM (Rooster) Limited

Agent: Montagu Evans

The Council accept that the Bexhill-Hastings Link road is vital to support the proposed housing and business development for North Bexhill.

Without the housing numbers allocated to this area, the overall housing target for the District cannot be met by the due dates. The potential for other, non-allocated sites to provide further units up to 2011 and beyond should be taken forward positively by the Council. Non-action at this stage will only compound the existing problems of a lack of affordable housing and low build rates in meeting the regional targets.

Comment

Representation ID: 18765

Received: 09/02/2007

Respondent: East Sussex County Council

Poor transport infrastructure serves only to reinforce this part of the Sussex Coast sub-region’s peripherality and limit opportunities to develop suitable business premises. The Link Road is essential in addressing local environmental problems, releasing employment sites and establishing the conditions for regeneration and growth.

The strategy for the Sussex Coast in the South East Plan seeks a step change in the sub-region’s economy to reduce unsustainable out-commuting. Much depends on the delivery of key transport within and beyond the district.

Comment

Representation ID: 18766

Received: 09/02/2007

Respondent: East Sussex County Council

The document does not explain the role of the County council as Highway Authority in securing developer contributions towards sustainable transport improvements and its current joint work with RDC on an accessibility audit for the area. The audit will be key in determining accessibility strategies , the distribution of development and the location of services in the district.

Consultation on the draft Hastings and Bexhill Local Area Transport Strategy will take place in the first half of 2007.

Comment

Representation ID: 18779

Received: 09/02/2007

Respondent: Home Builders Federation

Infrastructure is a necessary component, essential to support housing growth. The allowance of further housing development, especially a strategic development between Rother DC and Hastings BC, could be a catalyst to the delivery of infrastructure improvements, both through the appropriate and reasonable application of development contributions and through the provision of state financing for large infrastructure projects, which the HBF hope would be more readily forthcoming.

Comment

Representation ID: 18795

Received: 12/02/2007

Respondent: Campaign for Better Transport

. Acknowledge transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

. Challenge â€~poor connectivity’.

. Local trips potentially transferable to more sustainable modes.

. Some solutions do not require expensive infrastructure.

. Manage demand between Bexhill and Hastings and school run traffic.

. Opportunity for bus and rail improvements.

. â€~de-trunk’ A 259.

. Link Road and A21 schemes expensive and environmentally damaging.

. Be explicit on â€~Demand Management’ and â€~Smart Choices’

. â€~Regional Hub’ will maximise accessibility in the most sustainable way.

. High parking levels undermine demand-management.

. New roads draw wealth out of local economy.

. Link road need unproven.

. Walking/cycling are transport modes. More sociable 20mph zones promote cycling/walking and reduce accidents.

Comment

Representation ID: 18799

Received: 12/02/2007

Respondent: Mr. Edward Echlin

The whole document seems to rely heavily on the new road. We so reason for this road to be built and would prefer a long term strategy based on more sustainable transport policies.

Comment

Representation ID: 18811

Received: 13/02/2007

Respondent: AmicusHorizon Ltd (Rother Homes)

It needs to be appreciated that affordable housing in small villages or rural settlements is likely to be occupied by persons with lower than average incomes. For such accommodation to be viable, there needs to be a range of facilities, or access to a range of facilities. If such facilities do not exist within the village or settlement there needs to be a regular rural bus services or community bus services to provide access to larger villages and urban conurbations, and in particular, to create a link to employment, schools, shops, and surgeries.

Comment

Representation ID: 18834

Received: 13/02/2007

Respondent: Mr Christopher Strangeways

The larger settlements can be effective hubs for public transport.

Comment

Representation ID: 18841

Received: 14/02/2007

Respondent: Rother Environmental Group

Theme 3: the document is flawed by over-relying on the realisation of the Bexhill- Hastings Link Road. This desire is contrary to the' over-arching aim to create truly sustainable development, which can and should be achieved within existing development boundaries.

Very little mention is made of encouraging walking and cycling as the main means of transport (passing reference in 7.29) and too little emphasis is put on encouraging a reliable and frequent service public transport system.

Comment

Representation ID: 18854

Received: 14/02/2007

Respondent: The National Trust

The National Trust considers that improved connections with region and London, relief of localised congestion and a reduction in car use can be achieved through improvements to public transport and in particular, improvements to both the rail network and rail services. We fully support traffic management measures and improvements to facilitate increased walking and cycling within urban areas as a means of reducing localised congestion and assisting in regeneration.