Comment

Representation ID: 168204

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Dr Tumi Hawkins

6.5 DEVELOPMENT PHASING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY

The proposal for the site states that:

The following principles will apply and will be secured via the planning application process:
-Appropriate phasing for the delivery of off-site highway improvements, including those designed to mitigate localised impacts.
- Appropriate phasing of public transport, cycling and footpath improvements that will encourage new residents to adopt more sustainable modes of transport

Referring back to comments about direct access to the A428, there is an acknowledgement in the above statements as well as in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan on pages 75-76, Table items 9 to 15 that there will be impacts on local roads and this needs to be mitigated via highway improvements.

The SPD is specifying off-site mitigation to the traffic problems that will be created by the site. This is unacceptable.

The Local Plan examination report from the Planning Inspector states in paragraph 87:
'There is a degree of scepticism from the local community about whether their concerns can be adequately addressed through the development management process'

The SPD HAS NOT PROVIDED THAT GUIDANCE. Instead, it has fudged the situation completely passing the responsibility to the applicant and Cambridgeshire County Council.

Stating that traffic calming will be needed - off site - is accepting the impact on neighbouring villages. It is pushing the problem to the villages and that is morally unjustifiable. Furthermore, in policy terms, there is opportunity for the site to mitigate its own problems by providing direct access to the A428.

The County Highways & Transport Infrastructure committee have accepted the principle of this direct link to the A428, therefore South Cambs should be liasing directly to ensure this principle is followed and implemented.