Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Object

Representation ID: 20270

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Housing development cont: The statements made in para 7.20 overstate the transport/highway benefits of further building on the south side of town, particularly in view of the County Council's decision not to provide a new primary school in this area. These benefits would be even more questionable if the fire/ambulance station site is redeveloped and the enhanced convenience floor-space is at the western end of the town.

Object

Representation ID: 20271

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Housing development cont: If new development is to be considered, our preference is therefore for sectors 1 and 2 to be the main areas for further consideration but that this should be in the form of infillings or small extensions to existing built up areas rather than any large, single development.

Object

Representation ID: 20272

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

The Council is very concerned about the "Hastings fringes" proposals which, if carried through, would effectively create a new development area in Rother with all the potential for edging further towards Battle.

Support

Representation ID: 20273

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Threshold of AH: The Council is content with the proposal to lower the threshold in Battle to 10 dwellings and prefers a mix which includes a high proportion of shared equity.

Object

Representation ID: 20274

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Box 13d: Traffic Flows & Car Parking - The origin of these journeys, however, is critical in determining where any new car parking facility should be located and our belief is that the south east side of the town centre would be the wrong choice. The current parking problems in that area are more associated with the use of the railway station than general visitors to the town. Those problems would diminish through a combination of the proposed new station at Wilting and expanded car parking provision at the station itself.

Object

Representation ID: 20275

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Box 13d cont: Surveys suggest that less tourist visitors to the town originate from the south than other directions and the majority of those from outlying areas using the town's 'service centre' facilities also arrive from those directions via North Trade Road, London Road, Marley Lane and Powdermill Lane. The pressure on the town centre will therefore continue and the choice of location for additional off-street car parking should reflect that. We believe that this would be consistent with the key strategy aim "to deliver measures that minimise the demand for cross town vehicular traffic". It is unfortunate, of course, that the approval of the Blackfriars development has already compromised this objective.

Comment

Representation ID: 20276

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Box 13b: Location of esssential facilities - In order to achieve a reduction in traffic it is also necessary to ensure that enhanced facilities within the town are easily accessible on foot. The proposed relocation of the Martins Oak surgery must satisfy this criterion if the experience of Rye in relocating a town centre practice is not to be repeated. In the absence of any significant vacant spaces within the town centre the Council therefore believes a careful assessment needs to be made of the services which must remain in the town centre and those which could be relocated thus releasing land for other facilities..

Comment

Representation ID: 20277

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Whilst on the subject of the location of community facilities, there is an area of land at the Blackfriars site, formerly earmarked for a new primary school, which Rother District Council has agreed to hold reserved for Community facilities. We would like to see that use of the land recognised and formalised in the LDF.

Comment

Representation ID: 20278

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Box 13e: Retail floor space - Core Strategy proposal for increased retail floor space. As with other services, the Council would be concerned if such an increase took people out of the town centre since that could have the opposite effect to that desired of retaining trade in the town. An extension of one of the smaller supermarkets (presumably Budgens/Jempsons) would clearly be preferred. A converted Memorial Hall, however, could accommodate an internal mall incorporating quality shops and boutiques.

Comment

Representation ID: 20279

Received: 22/01/2009

Respondent: Battle Town Council

Box 13a: - Employment sites - Regarding employment sites, the Council agrees that Marley Lane, with its improved A21 junction is the best location. We are less sure whether Station Approach has potential in this respect.