3. Community Input

Really good case made for increased, effective public bridleway provision as a Public Bridleway is the non-motorised User definition which allows horseriders, cyclists and walkers to share and enjoy countryside access for health, leisure, commuting and work purposes. Hale Road is currently a Public Footpath with potential as bridleway (it is a 4-5m wide gravel drove road with grass verge and connects to Public Bridleway at west end and village at east end. There is no need for wood edges to bridleway surfaces, they may be mown grass or permeable soft-edged material (they can also be tarmac) depends on location and funding!

Representations made for Laragh House Developments Ltd who are working closely with Mr Johnson (the site owner) and have an option agreement on the site to the west of Swavesey at Land north of Home Close and West of Moat Way, Land north of Fen Drayton Road, Swavesey.
Representations made for Laragh House Developments Ltd who are working closely with Mr Johnson (the site owner) and have an option agreement on the site to the west of Swavesey at Land north of Home Close and West of Moat Way, Land north of Fen Drayton Road,Swavesey.

Page 13. Raised embankment to Home Close with views through trees to open fields as shown on figure 38 referenced under item 12.

Comment: It is unclear in what extent this raised embankment contributes positively to views and which is relatively large area I identified on the plan on land within our clients control. We feel there needs to be more analysis to understand the value of such an embankment,that appears to be on private land and does not form part of a public right of way.
Page 15:- Figure 42- an area of public open space is identified. This is also reference at paragraph 10.2 whereby it is stated that ''the potential for the Village College to expand its playing fields should be maintained and supported"- (see figure 42).

Comment:- The site owner of land to the West of Swavesey is able to deliver land for additiona l sports pitches- the proposals include the offer of 2.5ha of land south of the Village College sports pitches for additional sport pitch provision for the village should there be an opportunity for some further development within the land identified.

As part of this site the applicant is able to offer to Swavesey Parish Council a field to be used for outdoor sports - see site plan land edged green. The offer of this land is to be secured via a S106/Unilateral agreement to allow Swavesey Parish Council the opportunity to fully consider whether or not this land is suitable for sports use should residential develop ment opportunities arise.There may be an opportunity to deliver meaningful open space that will serve the community which is worthy of discussion. It is recognised that this may fall outside the remit of the Village Design Guide, but there is a discussion to be had regarding how new development could contribute positively to village amenities.




Page 9 quote:- In Swavesey there is a particularly strong risk that new development will intensify flood risk. Much of the adjoining land that may be considered for future development plays a role in flood attenuation . The impermeable clay subsoil means that any increase in the area of impermeable surface will increase the overland flow of surface water.

Comment: Future development can play a positive role in flood attenuation. Mr John Johnson owns land immediately to the West of Swavsey . A significant amount of work has been commissioned to review the drainage issues associated with this land. There is an opportunity through development to the north of Fen Drayton Road will include improvements to Covell's Drain embankments, new flood defence banks along Fen Drayton Road and Swavesey Road and ground raising at the development site north to Mill Way. The works will include allowance for up to 65% increase in flood size due to climate change, and are designed to avoid impact elsewhere in the catchment. Such benefits can only be practically funded through facilitating some residential developme nt.

These changes will mean that:
Flood risk to Swavesey from Covell's Drain will be reduced with protection into the future
The development site and land to the east of it will be defended against flooding from Covell's Drain
in the 1% chance event,including allowing for climate change
It is intended that these areas can be reclassified as an "Area Benefiting from Defence" on the Environment Agency's flood maps,and be considered to be at medium rather than high risk of flooding for planning and insurance purposes
Approx. 120 existing properties on Moat Way and Whitegate Close will be reclassified as benefiting
from defences and may even see improvements in their insurance premiums and property value. This is potentially a very significant benefit to the village and particularly those dwellings directly affected.

This response is based solely on the VDG. There are numerous, well documented reasons why equestrian access should be included in protecting and improving access including impact on the rural economy, public money should benefit all users, health and wellbeing, local and national Planning Policies. Should the Parish Council require further details or information, either the British Horse Society or Swavesey Bridleways Association would be pleased to answer questions or make a presentation with a view to working with the PC to improve countryside access for all.
The BHS is very pleased to see the inclusion of equestrians in the Swavesey VDG and supports all the ideas below for improving the bridleway network, creating new bridleways and upgrading footpaths to bridleway status:
'Section 3 Community input mentions that 'Opportunities should be taken to extend and enhance the network of bridleways around the village, connecting with neighbourhood communities, the Busway and adjacent cycle routes.' Also 'There is a desire to create a new bridleway along the A14 similiar to the route along the Guided Busway. This would connect into the system of connected bridleways which is desired by residents.'
'Section 9.3 Opportunities should be sought to:
Create new public bridleways linking to existing bridleways around the village and
connection to droves.
Extend bridleways into neighbouring villages such as Over.
Extend bridleways such as Middle Fen Drove to the North, where currently the bridleway stops to become only a public footpath.
Link new development to existing bridleways.
Upgrade footpaths to bridleways where indicated.'
'Section 9.6 Bridleway tracks should preferably be hedge lined and constructed over
hardcore. Surface should be permeable such as very fine gravel (not tarmac) and edged with wood.'
In section 9, fig 39, shows Hale Road as a bridleway, however Hale Road is not a Public Bridleway and should be labelled as a Public Footpath With Potential For Public Bridleway.
Also in section 9 ideally the bridleway surface should be grass, however if a harder surface is required, soft‐edged small material can be used, and some bridleways are tarmac with grass verges (e.g. the guided busway).
Some of the points in the plan do not mention the inclusion of equestrians for instance:
Section 9.5 mentions that 'Along roads into the village where there is currently no pavement or cycleway, and no space to install one adjacent to the road, there is the potential for routes to be provided along the edge of the adjacent field, preserving existing hedges.'
Equestrians should also be included on these paths if there is no reason not to include them.
Cambridgeshire County Council has a Local Transport Policy (LTP), which sets out their transport objectives, policies and strategy for the county. A sister document of the LTP is the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). The County Council updated its ROWIP in 2016 in line with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. You may wish to consult this document when drafting policies dealing with Non‐Motorised Users (NMU) and the Public Rights of Way network.
https://cambridgeshire.gv.uk/residents/travel‐road‐and‐parking/transport‐plans‐and‐policies/localtransport‐plan
Particular interest should be given to Policies S0A1 'Making the Countryside More Accessible', S0A2 'A Safer Activity', S0A3 '57,000 New homes', S0A4 'Knowing what's out there', S0A5 'Filling in the Gaps', and S0A8 'A Better Countryside Environment'- all of which include the need for access for equestrians.