Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 26451

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Bexhill Heritage

5.2 HWB2: Health impact assessments
Under government guidelines ‘Health Impact Assessment in spatial planning’, there are 3 types of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs); ‘comprehensive’, ‘rapid’ or ‘desktop’. Can RDC confirm which type of HIA is to be adopted for the development criteria mentioned in the policy?
Have officers carrying out these HIAs received sufficient training to do so?
Can RDC confirm if they have used the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework to review their training strategy and map areas of skills and knowledge relevant to HIA practice?
Can RDC confirm if they have in place a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme of training and learning opportunities for HIA completion and review?

Comment

Representation ID: 26452

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Bexhill Heritage

5.3 HWB4: Community facilities and services
Improving existing community facility premises should be granted planning permission with ‘like for like’ renovation works in line with current Building Regulations. For example, no uPVC window frames should be installed where metal/wood window frames were originally.
We are uncertain whether the ongoing maintenance of, or new build of facilities for local public toilets should fall under this category. However, the Council should make plans to ensure these services continue to be made available to the local population and do not fall into disrepair.

Comment

Representation ID: 26454

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Bexhill Heritage

5.4 HWB5: Green and blue infrastructure
iv) Who in RDC is trained to establish if the GI Masterplan is sufficient to be submitted for planning approval?

iv) Can RDC confirm that the GI Masterplan will be reviewed by a number of people (minimum of two), independently with any disparity reconciled by them collectively?

Comment

Representation ID: 26455

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Bexhill Heritage

5.5 HWB7: Combe Valley Countryside Park (CVCP)
Part of CVCP is privately owned. Can the Council agree that any future planning applications for residential new development within CVCP should be refused?

Comment

Representation ID: 26456

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Bexhill Heritage

6.1 We welcome the Council’s policy statement that planning permission will only be granted if there is ‘sufficient infrastructure capacity to meet the necessary requirements arising from the development’. However, there must be adequate provision for enforcement of this policy by the Council. Reliance on ageing infrastructure for the connection of water supplies to new developments, with the inevitable adverse consequences, as have already played out, is no longer acceptable.

Comment

Representation ID: 26457

Received: 22/07/2024

Respondent: Bexhill Heritage

Q182. We support a policy that protects and promotes dark skies. Bexhill has a network of amateur and professional astronomers. Light pollution damages dark skies and detracts from the beauty of the night sky seen from dark locations. The Council for the Protection of Rural England ((CPRE) contends that, “Starry skies are one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer. Light pollution not only limits our views of those skies but also disrupts wildlife’s natural patterns. We want to reclaim our dark skies.” We agree.