General « Arlesey Town Council

ATC has reluctantly taken the decision to postpone this weekend’s planned Spring Clean Up event due to current weather conditions. It is hoped that event will be rescheduled before the end of March. New dates to be advised shortly.

Feb

21

2018

ATC’s Response to CBC Local Plan Consultation

By Town Clerk, posted in General

ATC recently contracted a planning consultant to assist in the drafting of representations in response to CBC’s Pre-Submission Local Plan consultation, which closes at 5pm on Thursday 22^nd February 2018.

The Town Council’s representations fundamentally OBJECT to:

Policy SA3: Land East of Arlesey which proposes an additional 2,000 homes to the 1,400 planned by the Arlesey Cross Development,

and require the mitigation of High Street access issues prior to the delivery of:

Policy HA1 (sites HAS01 & HAS02) proposes growth within Arlesey of 87 homes on 2 parcels of land off High Street, Arlesey.

The full text of ATC’s representations can be viewed here (submitted responses here) however the summary below has been prepared to assist residents when considering their own representations.

The consultation period closes at 5pm on Thursday 22^nd February 2018.

The representations raise issues principally with regard to the following four areas:

The soundness of the spatial strategy;
Whether the level of further growth directed to Arlesey is compatible with its designation as a Minor Service Centre?
Whether the A507 has adequate capacity to serve the proposed growth at Arlesey and adjoining settlements?
Whether the proposed allocation site is sound having due regard to the spatial objectives of t he emerging Local Plan?

While the full text of the representations supports all of ATC’s individual comments, the following is a summary of ATC’s views on specific areas of the plan.

Section 5.4 – Spatial Strategy Approach

The Spatial Strategy approach does not address the differences between the various growth areas identified. The Sustainability Appraisals for many of the allocations identify key issues and potential negative effects which are not mitigated at all in the Spatial Strategy. The East of Arlesey allocation is included in every alternative scenario which suggests that no alternatives have been considered, despite a number of options having been discarded. Furthermore, without a clear commitment to essential infrastructure improvements, the strategy is undeliverable within the plan period and, therefore, contrary to national policy.

Proposed changes: Amend the strategy to provide an appropriate balance between growth areas and include clear commitments to essential infrastructure improvements

Policy SA3: East of Arlesey

This allocation fails to meet a number of the aims of the plan including coalescence and sustainability.

Reducing the gap between Arlesey and Fairfield would lead to visual coalescence between the settlements, if not physical coalescence.

The proposed development is described as being “not in close proximity to public transport” in the Growth Options Study (N29) with neither extremity of the allocation being closer than 1.5km from a railway station, and the location of the site means that the A507 will bear the brunt of the increased traffic and there are no planned enhancements to improve the capacity of the A507, a road that is already under strain.

Having regard to all this technical evidence and background studies, Arlesey Town Council has concluded that:

There is no evidence that the proposed growth will deliver greater sustainability through improved services, facilities and employment opportunities, leading to reduced travelling and outflows.
There is no evidence of adequate existing or committed strategic infrastructure to provide more sustainable development.
In view of the content of LP Appendix 4 and the significant discrepancies between the current planning application and the policy MA8 proposals, Arlesey Town Council see little evidence that the policy SA3 proposals will deliver a mixed development with reduced travel requirements.

Rather, the Town Council submit that Allocation Site SA3: East of Arlesey will result in unsustainable growth, leading to visual coalescence with Fairfield Park together with increased traffic congestion and an unacceptable impact on the quality of life for current and future residents of Arlesey and adjoining settlements. Furthermore, on the Council’s own evidence deliverability of the allocation is low and accessibility is medium at best. For all these reasons the proposed allocation is considered to be unsound.

Proposed changes: Delete the SA3 allocation and also amend policy SP1 accordingly.

Policy HA1: Small and Medium Allocations

This representation relates to sites HAS01 and HAS02. ATC accepts the principle of development of these two sites which will adjoin the MA8 allocation (Arlesey Cross). As such they will represent a logical extension to Arlesey without resulting in unacceptable impacts on the character of the area subject to detailed design, including access and provision of the Eastern Relief Road, which should be completed prior to any development of these sites. Acknowledged capacity constraints in High Street indicate that the principal access should be to the Eastern Relief Road.

Proposed changes: Sites HAS01 and HAS02 require Additional Policy Requirements: Detail design including access will be required to complement the MA8 Arlesey Cross proposals. Development will not be permitted prior to implementation of approved Eastern Relief Road, with direct access to the Eastern Relief Road or the Arlesey Cross development. Access via High Street will not be permitted.

12. Employment and Economy

The statement at paragraph 12.1.6 is inconsistent with paragraph 6.5.3 and is not supported by evidence in the CBC Local Area Transport Plan and Transport Modelling, both of which highlight the limited network capacity, particularly on the A507.

Proposed changes: Amend paragraph 12.1.6 to accord with paragraph 6.5.3 and the evidence base, to acknowledge the limited network capacity, particularly on the A507 and acknowledge the additional investment required to secure highway improvements.

14.1 Overview of Transport Network

The statement at paragraph 14.1.1 is inconsistent with paragraph 6.5.3 and is not supported by evidence in the CBC Local Area Transport Plan and Transport Modelling, both of which highlight the limited network capacity, particularly on the A507.

Proposed changes: Amend paragraph 14.1.1 to accord with paragraph 6.5.3 and the evidence base, to acknowledge the limited network capacity, particularly on the A507 and acknowledge the additional investment required to secure highway improvements.

Ends.

Please direct any queries regarding this or any other Town Council matter to our Town Clerk, Susan Foulkes, either by email: townclerk@arleseytc.co.uk by telephone 01462 733722 or in writing to the Town Council Office, Arlesey Community Centre, High Street, Arlesey SG15 6SN

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Feb

15

2018

Agenda for Town Council Meeting to be held 20th February 2018

By Assistant Clerk, posted in General, Meeting Agendas

The agenda for the Town Council meeting to be held on Tuesday 20th February 2018 is now available to view.

Arlesey Town Council Agenda – 20/02/2018

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Feb

07

2018

Minutes of Finance and General Purposes Committee held 5th December 2017

By Admin Assistant, posted in General, GPF Committee Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held 5th December 2017 are now available to view

Minutes of Finance and General Purposes Committee – 05/12/2017

Feb

06

2018

Councillor Surgery – 3rd March 2018

By Admin Assistant, posted in General

Surgery March 2018 Read more →

Jan

11

2018

Agenda for Town Council Meeting to be held on 16th January 2018

By Town Clerk, posted in General

The agenda for the Town Council meeting to be held on Tuesday 16th January 2018 is now available to view.

Arlesey Town Council Agenda – 16/01/2018

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Jan

11

2018

CBC Publishes its Pre-Submission Local Plan

By Town Clerk, posted in General

Central Bedfordshire Council has now published its Pre-Submission Local Plan which contains proposals for an additional 2,000 homes for Arlesey over and above the 1,400 homes planned under the Arlesey Cross development – POLICY SA3 (link below) details the these proposals.

CBC Pre-Submission Local Plan – Policy SA3 East of Arlesey

The plan also proposes 2 smaller developments (sites HAS01 & HAS02) for up to 87 homes, under Policy HA1: Small & Medium Allocations Jan 2018.

CBC Local Plan Representations Procedure

CBC Website Link – Local Plan Consultation (Use this link to submit representations online)

CBC is hosting a public drop-in event at Arlesey Village Hall on Tuesday 30th January from 3pm to 7.30pm – however representations on the plan can be submitted from today (11th Jan) up until the deadline date for submissions; being 22nd February 2018.

Arlesey Town Council will initially be considering its position on the the Pre-Submission Local Plan at its meeting to be held on 16th January, and will finalise any representations it considers appropriate at the next Council meeting on 20th February 2018. Residents are welcome to attend both meetings.

ATC’s previous representations can be viewed below:

ATC’s Representations on CBC Draft Local Plan Consultation Regulation 18 – August 2017

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Dec

19

2017