Representation to oppose site in Fairlight and other general comments on the Local Plan

Representation to oppose site in Fairlight and other general comments on the Local Plan

Representation to oppose site in Fairlight and other general comments on the Local Plan

Representation to oppose site in Fairlight and other general comments on the Local Plan

I wanted to comment on the Draft Local Plan 2020-2040 for housing.
Particularly on page 135 where it states that 14 new homes are proposed for Guestling Green.
I wondered if you could tell me if there is a specific site for these houses that has already been identified?
And do you know what kind of housing is proposed? Will they affordable for young people and young families?

I live in Guestling at the end of Pett Village and I wanted to register my concern about the danger to pedestrians along the main roads and lanes in this area. I feel that if new housing is to be built, it should be easier for people to walk to local amenities such as the butcher's shop in Pett village and the pubs.
The speed limit outside my house, which is near the end of Chapel Lane, is 40 miles an hour and visibility is very bad. When we walk along the road to reach the public footpath opposite the end of Chapel Lane, we take our life in our hands. Traffic picks up speed down Friars Hill and outside our house you can't see around the bend. If you walk on the other side, cars can't overtake you because they can't see around the bend to pass safely.
A 40 mile per hour limit along this stretch is too high and it affects our quality of life and that of our neighbours.

If new housing is to be built in this area then I feel that adjustments need to be made to the speed limits so that people don't have to drive every time they go out. There are amenities that people could walk to.
The dangerous speeds on these lanes are a barrier to people feeling that they can walk even short distances. I would not want to walk along these roads with small children.

I also wanted to say that this area is an AONB and so new housing could be a threat to bio diversity if habitats are destroyed. I hope that any plans for housing would include careful consideration for increasing bio diversity in this area.

If this planning application is approved it could cause loss of life with the immense amount of traffic,etc and as you are aware never ending problems with all services required.If loss off life occurs you know that you are and will be held responsible. Fairlight residents are struggling with some problems now so how can you ever pass this application.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make sewage pollution matters worse and I call for Wakeham’s Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

I support the 2022 Appeal Inspector’s findings on Wakeham’s Pond Field re: the
risk of groundwater flooding is too high and that extra houses would make
sewage pollution matters worse than they are already. I therefore call for
Pond Field to be de-allocated in the new Local Plan.

Yet again we have to remind people of the reasons why the proposed development at Wakeham’s Farm, or Pond Field, is completely inappropriate and should not proceed.

You should refer to my earlier correspondence and the Appeal Hearing Inspector’s report from 2022 and support its findings.

Groundwater flooding risk is too high and this is supported by local residents’ gardens being flooded for long periods after rainfall run off from the field this year.

The risk of foul water and sewage pollution, already an issue in Fairlight and Pett Level, will be increased due to the inadequacy of local treatment works.

There is no community infrastructure to support the new residents – the local GP surgery has recently been deemed to be Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and is unable to provide a satisfactory service to those of us unfortunate to be registered as patients there. There are no schools in the area or any significant employment opportunities. Even the sole local shop and Post Office has now closed.

The local roads are in a disgraceful state with the main access route, Pett Level Road, being practically unusable because of dangerous potholes.

All types of pollution will be increased including light pollution.

For all these reasons and the wider interests of Fairlight and Pett Level, Pond field should be de-allocated and removed from the RDC Local Plan (2020/40).

In response to your consultation on the draft district plan, I am writing to say that Pond Field, Wakeham's Farm at Fairlight should be deallocated for housing.

It is not suitable for the previous planned usage on account of it being remote and detached from the village, so harming community life, its poor access for pedestrians and due to its environmental impact.

While broadly in favour of small, sensitive developments in line with local needs for housing and employment I feel that 14 proposed homes in the wild meadows site is too great a number , too dense housing proposal.

Unsafe due to winding nature and narrowness of Chaple Lane No walking path along chapel lane, a really busy access road to Pett and Fairlight, fairly chaotic at school pick up and set down times, also much frequented by walkers accessing the footpaths in woods, and horses.

Light and noise pollution due to increased density of housing in village.
Habitat damage
Last few years have evidenced marked decline in frogs and toads locally as increased traffic have destroyed so many. As they make their way across Chaple lane to the stream and ponds to spawn.Additional homes in this location will just exacerbate the problem.

Lack of services
Very poor transport links, not really feasible for people to live in Guestling without access to their own transport,Bus service once an hour is inadequate.
No doctors surgery
No shop
No community hub , no youth toddler or elderly support/clubs.poor digital connectivity.

I would support a much smaller development that incorporated community facilities, planted tress and created recreational facilities for the children who currently play in the road at Highham Gardens, much more in keeping with a village community and less detrimental to the environment

Objection to the Proposed Possible Site in Wild Meadows Chapel Lane Guestling

Habitat that will be affected by the urbanisation of this little Hamlet of Guestling

These pictures most of which taken in Winter, just gives a very brief snapshot of some of the Wildlife that lives /surrounds and uses this proposed possible site. It shows how close the site would be to the grade II listed old coffin makers cottage dating back to the 17th century where evidence of this old trade can still be seen (not Ghosts thank fully ) and how visible it would be during the winter months. It demonstrates how narrow the lane is ...in summer , the lane is in full leaf and looks stunning . A housing estate would change the landscape forever and for the future generations to come. It would be unrecognisable and would need a huge section of the lane removed for access .

Objection to GUE0012

I note the proposal for 14 houses simply by contact with neighbours.

This is a quiet village at the moment and the lane doesn't need to be any busier.

It is already dangerous for walkers etc.

The extra traffic needed for construction will be unacceptable.

This is the thin end of the wedge and soon there will be no green fields left in the area.

Objection to HELAA site GUE0012

We already have many issues in Chapel Lane (a narrow country lane) with school pick-up parking and lack of consideration, so of course if the proposed planning was to go ahead, it will increase immensely and continually.

And what a pity for such a beauty spot to be infested with continuous traffic and noise, let alone the pollution!

See attached

See attached

PLANNING ALLOCATION 2020-2040 PROPOSED POTENTIAL SITE:
WILD MEADOWS CHAPEL LANE, GUESTLING TN35

I would like to object to the above for the following reasons:

This site has already been through and refused planning permission on a local level by Rother Council Planning Department and then refused on a national level on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate who stated in his summing up that another urban cluster of housing in Chapel Lane will have an impact on Guestlings historic survival which should be protected.

So how is this site been allocated as a possible site for 14 houses when it was turned down for 4.

THE FACTS AND THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF BUILDING 14 NEW HOUSES ON THE ABOVE SITE WILL HAVE:

The site is and should remain protected being an AONB.

Presently, it houses a small stable block shrouded by trees and a post and rail small sanded menage area most of this potential site is green grazing. This cannot be classed as a greybelt

It is adjacent to a farm and the boundary is within meters of the farmhouse.

The site stands at least 1.8 to 2.4 metres above the lane where already with moderate rainfall the water runoff from this area has added to the flooding of two properties at the bottom of the lane, with what will be essentially a new housing estate being built, more properties along the lane will be at greater risk of flooding along with erosion problems to the lanes banks where the current houses are built on the edge of the road.

The lane that traffic from a new build would emerge onto is narrow, leafy and without paths, to make a suitable new entrance that would have to take into account room for a 2 way roadway & splay would mean the removal of a huge part of the lane to include the removal of established shrubs & trees which would devastate the lane.

The lane itself is without pathways making walking for a larger numbers of people more hazardous than it is now - someone was recently hit by a car when the main road was diverted down the Chapel Lane which often happens when there is an accident on the A259 the suggestion of making a pathway for just this site as was put in the last plans is of no use and would add further to the flooding issue.

There is a threat that the farmers field next to the proposed site where the sewage infrastructure would not cope enough to service another 14 houses would mean that another sewage system would need to be installed digging up and disrupting a large part of the farm.

There are no nearby shops, the School is oversubscribed and the buses run hourly. Most journeys will have be made by car so does not align to "Green to the Core" nor building on protected land.

The area is of dark and quiet at night allowing nocturnal movement for animals to feed. All around this site there are grazing animals and the huge amount of wildlife that thrive here will be impacted greatly. The ancient feeding routes will be disrupted as this site is meters away from ancient woodlands. We then have to consider the possible curiosity from the children of residents of the new builds who may not be used to livestock making potentially dangerous situations not only for them but for the animals creating them to be stressed.

The lane has several Grade 11 listed buildings situated on the roadside which are likely to be structurally affected by plant movement and building supplies being delivered, the lane is on average 4 meters wide . The Depot currently has one skip lorry every week with 2 small vehicles running out in the morning and returning in the afternoon they all drive slowly so is no comparison to that which will be needed to build and subsequent traffic once built which will include delivery vehicles, couriers and homeowners with an average of 2 cars each property. Both entrances to the lane are very narrow and at points becoming single lane.

Guestling is a historic hamlet mentioned in the doomsday book and therefore should be protected from urbanisation. It should remain as is which is, a quiet area for the many residents some of which are elderly and have worked and lived all of their lives tending and looking after the land which has kept the area beautiful and as such that people visit on their way to Rye.

In the summary of the proposal it states that a row of trees could buffer the houses from the wider countryside but we would be removing a large section of the lane, and young trees would take years to establish. It also would not combat the problems above.

So to briefly summarise: This Area of outstanding beauty is at threat for the reasons above.

For the residents it will have a devasting impact on their lives and properties so conflicts with the strategy" live well locally " if this site were to remain a possible site. The is not a case of not in our backyard is it a case of protecting our countryside and the homes that we have worked all our lives to build and save for. The need for houses is genuine and we all acknowledge this but we must look to utilise our greybelt sites as outlined by the government, that would be enhanced by the building of houses where the residents will be near public transport and facilities.

As we use Chapel Lane on a daily basis, for walking our dog and running the land would become more dangerous than it already is. If more houses were built the increase in traffic when building and after completion would be a huge strain on a busy narrow lane.

Please see attached document for the full submission from Westfield Parish Council.

Please find my comments on the Rother planning document. My focus relates mostly to Guestling Green as this is the area in which I am resident. I tried to add comments to the plan but found it was constructed in a way that makes telling a coherent story very difficult and the plan is segmented in a way that does not match with my comments and concerns.

Rother, and particularly Guestling, is a rural area with an older population – 32 percent is 65 years old or older compared with 18 percent for the south east. The housing stock is also old and tends towards larger houses. The plan calls for a higher share of affordable housing and identifies this as one and two-bedroomed houses as this relates to what is most affordable for first time buyers. However, attracting first time buyers would be difficult in the area as there is little focused employment in the Rother district and particularly in Guestling. One and two-bedroomed houses tend to attract transient house owners, on their first step towards building a family, which tends to need three and four bedroomed houses. This runs counter to building a community in the area because of the short-term housing occupants spend in their first or second homes. As employment in Guestling is likely to be seasonal and service based or agriculture based, which tends again to be towards the lower end of the pay scale, this makes it difficult to attract first time buyers because of their lower income. Typical employment would be working in services (pubs, hotels) or farm and shop working.

Most occupants of affordable housing are likely to look towards the towns (e.g., Hastings, Ashford) for their jobs which means they will either drive to their work locations or use public transport. Public transport in the Guestling area can be weak and sporadic, and many new house owners are likely t o drive to work. This adds to the parking issues in the towns, contributes to the poorer air quality, higher carbon emissions, and more traffic. The local roads are at best in a poor condition with inadequate maintenance and not wide enough to cater for the increased traffic. There seem to be few, if any, plans to improve the road infrastructure.

As one and two-bedroomed houses attract more transient occupants, and one of the biggest industries in the region is tourism: providing holiday homes these houses are more likely to be bought by investors looking for affordable holiday homes to rent out during the summer. There is already a substantial holiday home stock in the Guestling and Pett areas and building smaller homes that investors can afford is more likely to attract holiday lets or Airbnb owners. These will again attract cars driven by people less used to rural roads and clog the roads during the summer.

Specifically looking at the HEELA assessments – most of the sites identified for the Guesting Green areas have been rejected – mostly for the same reasons of access and view, unknown ownership or availability, together with the sites being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Only one site is identified as a candidate, and it is no different to the rejected sites other than its availability is known. This site is also visible from the valley and from houses on Pett Road so also should be rejected because of that. It is also on a narrow road (Chapel Lane) which recently saw accidents partly because of the narrow nature of the road and poor views along its length. The site has been considered for 4-6 houses in the recent past and planning permission was rejected because of the view and access, so adding 14 affordable houses will be worse than 6 – meaning this should also be rejected. Finally, there is a significant risk of flooding, as was seen over the past winter, with torrents of water pouring down Pett Road and Chapel Lane, which would pour into the proposed development at Wild Meadow (GUE0012)

An alternative consideration might be to focus on 3–4-bedroom houses in the Guestling and Pett areas to encourage increased longer-term occupation by families, building a greater sense of community. There is a definite poverty of community resources in the area with fewer and fewer shops, post offices, school places, transport connections, doctors, and dental surgeries: and these will need to be encouraged and included in the plan to strengthen the attraction for families to the area. Without this the aged population will pass on and there will not be a new generation to carry on the village-like communities in the district – at best Guestling and Pett would become a collection of dormitory villages supporting employment and services in Hastings and other towns.

Considering the strategic initiatives proposed in the plan:

Green to the core:

A better option might be to encourage less car transport or increased public transport. More frequent bus services, subsidising the installation of vehicle charging to again encourage electric vehicles rather than petrol- or diesel-powered ones. This could be the provision of lower cost home charging or charging stations in and around town centres to make the transition to electric vehicles easier and more transparent.

Many houses in the Guestling and Pett areas a old and use wood burners, gas or oil boilers, and are likely to be poorly insulated. Encouraging the transition to heat pumps and solar through education, recommended installers, subsidies, and through education for insulation is more likely to have an effect in the longer term and will continue to reap rewards over time as the carbon footprint of the area is reduced.

Live Well Locally:

Encouraging a village existence would attract people more likely to move or live in the area and stay here, contributing to a better community. The gradual demise of local services such as shops, libraries, schools, discourages people from moving to the area, so patchwork building of affordable housing will not attract people that want to remain in the area. Part of this plan must be the attraction of industry that is not seasonal to provide the bedrock for household income, but also the building of hamlets or villages with enough houses to support these shops and services. Guestling Green in particular had many shops and services in the past so there is scope to build these up again. There are many village halls around the Rother area, with Pett, Guestling, and Fairlight hosting halls. These can be extended or expanded to provide local services. Already there are some services such as doctors weekly visits and these can be extended and enhanced to build a stronger sense of community. I think the different services provided at the village hall are not well advertised, and there should be a plan to publicise these better, as well as to enhance them. In particular there is a significant elderly population in the district that can benefit from healthier living through exercise, education for new technologies that might be difficult for those less used to technology impact, and also education about plans and activities from the local elected officials and council workers. I am conscious of a large number of women-oriented activities, but there are precious few activities targeted towards the older men in the area. I think particularly of the Men In Sheds activities in Ore – I think Guestling, Pett, Fairlight in particular could learn from that, and this can contribute to living well locally for the older male population. Many of these men have valuable skills they could pass on to younger members too and contribute to the community. This needs encouragement as part of the plan.

Further to my comments sent yesterday asking for the removal of Wild Meadows in Chapel Lane, Guestling from the plan, which is an historic landscape in an ANOB, I also suggest the removal of Pond Field in Fairlight. This plan will also require violation of AONB land due to the access road. What is the point of designating these areas of beauty and then allowing them to be urbanised? Loss of ANOB affects everyone, not just local residents as people come to enjoy the beauty from the urban areas.
Kind regards

With ref to the above I would like to make a few comments.
We have lived in Friars hill for 10 years now and over the years the traffic has increased considerably. Failed attempts to get the speed limit down has failed and it seems there has to be a fatal accident before it being considered. I agree we need more housing for young and old but why can't there be more built on brown sights where additional utilities can also be built. Other pointers are ,
Entrance into both ends of Chapel Lane would not be assessable ie tight bend , damage to trees etc.
Daily traffic and parking from school runs into Guestling Bradshaw in Chapel Lane increases the traffic and parking problems.
We have a great amount of wildlife in the area including bats.
There are no paths down Friars Hill, Chapel Lane and surrounding roads and also a lot of elderly and children using the roads, a recipe for disaster . I could go on but please take these things into consideration. Thank you .

Pond Field, Fairlight

I cannot believe we are in this position yet again.
Please refer to mine and many others’ submissions against building houses on Wakehams Pond field in 2022 and before.
Nothing has changed for the better. The same objections still apply – no schools, little work opportunies in the area, lack of transport, lack of good roads (the road approaching from Rye is now hardly usable at all because of the number and size of potholes!)
There will be light pollution and noise pollution and most important worse sewage pollution, and the risk of groundwork flooding is too high.
This year has seen neighbours who back on to the field having their gardens continually flooded.
Please refer to the 2022 Appeal Hearing Inspectors’ report.
It is in the interest of Fairlight, Rother council and the environment to de-allocate housing on Wakehams Pond field in Rother District Council’s new Local Plan2020/40.

I am writing in relation to a potential plot for the development of houses set within the historic village of Guestling Green, East Sussex TN35 4LS. The current owners of Wild Meadows on Chapel Lane had previously applied for the building of 14 no. houses which was refused by Rother Council and again on appeal then by D R McCreery MA BA (HONS ) MRTPI PLANNING INSPECTORATE on 10th January 2022.

Having looked into the Rother Local Plan Draft Regulation18 which is to replace Core Strategy 2014 and Development of Site Allocations 2019. I can see that Rother Councils proposal which is required by the NPPF at least every 15 years for the long term benefit of the Districts Communities in the towns and local villages includes this as a potential site again.

Guestling Green itself which forks from the A259 into Chapel Lane has five listed period properties all set within a close radius with a further two set within the lane itself and two more on the road of Friars Hill which reconnects with the A259.

Dating over 900 years Guestling Green is a historical village with picture postcard Georgian and Victorian cottages which are an intrinsic part of both the villages past history and present. It is viewed that the potential plot would deeply misalign the character and appearance and would neither conserve or enhance the landscape and beauty of the AONB High Weald and its historical assets.

As mentioned in the Plan the NPPF sets out the overarching planning policy which the Local Plan must meet, including a justification for the level of development proposed. Which seeks to balance local housing and economic development needs against heritage, landscape and environmental protections.

It is also understood that the plan sets two key priorities the first one being Green to the Core and lastly “Live Well Locally”

This potential plot set within Wild Meadow in Chapel Lane, Guestling has the capability to remove this balance as stated by Rother Council & D R McCreery three and half times fold and in turn would not serve our community to “Live Well Locally” nor be “Green to the Core”.

The effect on the character and appearance within this historic area, with a more urbanised setting would neither conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB and the setting of nearby heritage assets.

Increases in traffic and speeding, recent localised flooding within the lane is gradually worsening & safety is of the utmost importance for residents both old and young. Heavy construction works, and additional heavy traffic both during and after completion would severely damage the safety, ecology, hardscape & historical assets of the lane including the two exit and entry points, which are already showing signs of congestion and noise pollution which would then lead to the potential of being unrecoverable.

It is noted that within the plan Rother Council identifies its crucial position in responding to the Council’s declared Climate Emergency and for the local communities to positively engage in a dialogue via Neighbourhood Planning Groups in finding logical solutions that will increase and aid our communities and surrounding environmental support and growth needs.

I do fully support this idea of a dialogue as in the past the communities who look after, maintain and help in preserving our homes and neighbourhoods can be left powerless and without voice. My family an I live directly on the green, and in the last four years increases in general traffic through, noise pollution and accidents within our small village has increased. Parking has become a challenge for the residents here, which in time will contribute to stressed situations resulting in an unneeded layer of unhappiness and uncomfortability within the home setting for residents.

The rural country lane should retain its historical original purpose, which is to support local residents who have families living here for over 90 years plus and their families families should also benefit from a breathable landscape with a balanced ecology to enjoy instead of the potential onset of an urbanised cluster of housing which will negatively impact the life quality of its current residents, and should align with the AONB nature and leafy setting it was built for originally.

Lastly I would like to divert attention away from Guestling Green and raise the point about affordable housing. I’m sure most of us would agree that this genre of housing is much needed and long over due, and with the restructured guidelines currently being worked on by our new government, we must not take it for granted that green belt consent AONB or otherwise will be open to all who wish to capitalise on the revised framework, for external purposes other than for the housing for families. Brownfield sites and existing properties set within towns should have a primary focus of attention than green belt areas as they hold greater possibilities including inbuilt communities, services, amenities & opportunities for more jobs and economic growth.

A focused attention will be needed by all of us to make sure that our quality of life is enhanced, lending a more progressed outwardly perspective for all.

With this, I do raise objection to the potential building of 14 houses at Wild Meadows in Chapel Lane as inappropriate as clearly proven by two Rubber stamped previous rejections. With over 700 empty properties currently within the Town of Hastings as an example. This should play a pivotal role in the new housing schemes. Instead of slowly urbanising our village of Guestling Green which is of intrinsic value to our identities our families and should be preserved & valued.

See attached document for the representation.

I wish to submit my comments about the potential development of Guestling Green in the Local Plan and in particular the site identified for a potential residential housing development of 14 dwellings (GU0012. Wild Meadows).

1) Any development within Guestling Green and particularly along Chapel Lane would need to fit within the High Weald Natural Landscape (Area of Outstanding National Beauty). I feel this development would be intrusive and inappropriate.

This is a rural area of open worked fields with scattered housing along Chapel Lane itself with several footpaths well used by walkers which lead to the ancient Parish Church of St Laurence. In addition footpaths which cross the proposed site follow old pathways to Icklesham and towards Pett Village.
There are seven listed buildings on Chapel Lane, which combined with the farmed and wooded nature of much the land bordering the road, contribute to the High Weald Natural Landscape.
Glebe Wood, with ancient Sussex woodland and a wildlife corridor to the Woodland Trust’s Guestling Wood, borders the southern end of Chapel Lane.

The impact of a development of 14 houses would be highly detrimental to the rural nature of Guestling Green . It would introduce a high number of houses of contemporary design, disproportionate considering the size of the Guestling Green community, and associated roads, garages and drive ways.
This would impose an urban hard-landscaping on an AONB.

The proposed development would be on higher ground than Chapel Lane itself, where many of the houses sit lower than street level. It is likely to be visible from the A259 and fromhouses in parts of Friars Hill to the south of it, and not sit well within the AONB.

Felling of trees and hedge removal to clear the site would undoubtably exacerbate this and lighting from the houses and traffic would be clearly visible at night. (Currently flood lighting from the Pet Waste company at the old ESCC highways depot next to the proposed site is periodically visible to houses in parts of Friars Hill. ) Generally though, light pollution is low at present and there are several species of bats in the area. Development is likely to threaten these.

Development of the ‘Wild Meadows‘ site would have a significantly detrimental impact on the wildlife and woodland ecosystems in Glebe Wood which currently includes Tawny owls, several species of bats, badger sets and large areas native bluebells in spring.

I note that site FA10016 an old BT site was rejected because it ‘ had links to ancient woodland.. and that the necessary removal of trees for any development ‘ would be harmful to the biodiversity and rural character of the area.

The ‘Wild Meadows’ site development would have similar and arguably more detrimental impact on the rural fields and footpaths around it, Glebe Wood and beyond and the trees and hedgerows along Chapel Lane.

2) Chapel Lane is narrow and winding with limited vision for drivers and pedestrians: it is unsuitable for firstly, construction traffic and lateral, traffic associated with any houses built.

There is no footpath and pedestrians need to cross the road before blind bends in order be visible to oncoming traffic. It is crossed by walkers following the 1066 Walk and entering Glebe Woods.

Additionally the junction with the A259 the Lane is heavily parked up at school start and finish times and with the cars of current residents without off road parking.
The ‘Wild Meadows’ development would result in a considerable long term increase in traffic when completed . Additionally, construction vehicles using the narrow and winding lane would make it highly dangerous to walkers, cyclists and other drivers.
In its current eroded and pot holed state it is unlikely to survive the construction traffic and additionally, it has flooded several times over the last two years.

3) It is hard to see how development could fit with Rother Council’s ‘ Living Well Locally’ locally strategy:

Walking, Wheeling, Cycling and Public Transport -Accessible Centres. (Ai)

This states that an intention to create Accessible Centre where residents should have access ..’ to a food shop, park or green space.., an accessible meeting place.. , Primary school, Post Office or bank and a GP Surgery .

Currently residents have no food shop, GP surgery, Post Office or bank. Guestling Bradshaw School is heavily over subscribed.

New residents would not have access to these local services as they are not currently available and there does not appear to be a strategy to promote these. Live Well Locally ‘ Accessible Centres’ are an intention but new and current residents are unlikely to benefit from these in the short/medium term.

Moreover, a high number of new residents will in the short term, leave new residents highly reliant on car travel to access services and add to pressure on services, particularly GPs and schools, for existing residents. Again this will increase local traffic in Chapel Lane and onto Pett Road and the A259, both of which have junctions with poor visibility.

( I note that two sites identified on the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (FA1003) (FA10016) were considered not suitable for development because there were no local services) FA10016 ‘No adjacent footways, very few nearby services and facilities’)

‘Live Well Locally’ suggests that access to these facilities for residents of rural settings should be within ‘an acceptable walking or cycling distance of 800 metres ..where not, there should be accessible walking routes ‘.

Chapel Lane has no footpaths and considerable traffic and limited visibility to drivers, no accessible walking routes to accessible centres , and cycling to services, the nearest of which would probably be in Ore, is already difficult and dangerous.

To summarise, I would like to object to the development of site FA10016 on the following grounds –

1) It is an inappropriate development in the HWNL.
2) It would destroy local wildlife habitats
3) Local services for new residents are absent /not adequate
4) Increased traffic would make walking, cycling and wheeling of children and the disabled, even more difficult and dangerous.

This development would contribute to a gradual erosion of a historic village almost 1000 years old and its rural field setting. I note that planning permission for a development of 4 houses was refused on appeal on 10th January 2022. It seems inconceivable that a proposal for a development of 14 houses should now be considered in this small hamlet. The proposed site has been identified in HELAA as being the only development currently being considered as suitable in this part of Guestling, which is a huge burden for such as small community.

I hope this will receive your careful consideration.

See attached document for objections on FAI0001: Land east of Waites Lane, Fairlight Cove.