LIGHTFOOT LANE AREA RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

LLARA

January 2013 Newsletter

Happy New Year to One and ALL

Dear Neighbour

Since the last newsletter there have been a number of developments.

Preston City Council Planning Committee Meeting.

There is still no firm date set by the City Planning Department for consideration of the Redrow planning application however the Planning Department have confirmed that it is NOT scheduled for their January meeting. The Planning Committee meeting scheduled for February 4th 2013 is now the earliest date that the application could be considered.

Many residents have already submitted an objection to the development prior to the date set by the City Planning Department, which you recall was 12/12/2012. Bearing in mind that the Redrow application will not be considered by the City Planning Committee before February, we have been assured that objections submitted over the next few weeks by residents who have not already written to the Planning Department will still be acknowledged and be included with all other objections to the proposed development.

There is also nothing to prevent residents writing to the City Planning Department again expanding and adding to issues already raised. Indeed we would encourage this.

As you are probably aware details of the application can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.preston.gov.uk/planning-search.

Objections can be made via the link above or by email to [email protected] or in writing to - Planning Department, Preston City Council, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL quoting reference 06/2012/0822

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LLARA

LLARA Steering Group collective objection

In formulating our collective objection to the Redrow application the steering group has received very helpful guidance from Julie Buttle, clerk to Woodplumpton Parish Council. We are also pleased to report the support given to our cause by Ben Wallace in correspondence he has had with the City Planning Officer (copies of his letter are available on request from members of the steering group - see below for contact details). The steering group has also been active in encouraging our local councillors to get involved and to understand their position. We have also been in contact with IGVRA, COVAG and other local residents’ groups who share ours concerns and objections.

The LLARA steering group is seeking expert advice and shortly will also submit a very detailed collective response on behalf of the residents’ association. If any resident feels that they can contribute to this response then please contact members of the steering group listed below as soon as possible.

We intend to include with this response a list of addresses, including yours, in order to highlight to the City Planning Officer the extent of the grassroots support that underpins LLARA’s objection to the Redrow plan. Individual names, telephone numbers or email addresses will NOT be included. IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT INCLUSION OF YOUR ADDRESS THEN PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE FRIDAY 11th JAN AND YOUR DETAILS WILL BE REMOVED.

LLARA Website.

The steering group believe that it would be helpful to create a website in order to keep residents informed of current and future development applications in the area. We see this as a simple but effective communication tool.

We are looking for a volunteer with some experience in creating and maintaining websites, uploading documents for information and for download by others. The person would need their own software for creating and managing the website along with FTP for uploading. If you or a member of your family is interested, please contact Simon Bond (159 Lightfoot Lane) to discuss in more detail – [email protected]

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LLARA

Residents Meeting – LLARA Country and Irish Music Evening

There will be an opportunity for residents to meet informally with members of the steering group at a fundraising social event organised by and ‘featuring’ one of our residents that will take place on Saturday 26th January at the Wheatsheaf Public House, Woodplumpton. Details are included in the flyer circulated with this newsletter.

LCC Transport Master Plan

Shortly before Christmas, LCC published their long awaited Transport Master Plan, which included a number of proposals to address the current and future traffic congestion challenges that frequently occur on the northerly side of Preston.

CEG, who are the organisation behind the application to develop housing on land immediately east of Sidgreaves Lane, have proposed in their plans a NW orbital link road which they believe would integrate with the emerging LCC Transport Master Plan. This proposed link road runs from Sidgreaves Lane crossing Sandy Lane and Tabley Lane emerging on Tom Benson Way/Eastway some distance east of the current Lightfoot Lane/ Tom Benson Way/Walker Lane (pedestrian) junction with a second exit on the east side of the railway line on Eastway almost opposite the Methodist church. The proposed road passes from Sidgreaves Lane through the centre of all the land earmarked for housing development south of the M55 and north of Lightfoot Lane/Hoyles Lane (from west to east – the CEG site, the Wainhomes site, the Haydock Grange site, the Redrow site and the Connemara site located to the east of PGRFC).

Whilst this, on the face of it, does not address the traffic congestion seen even now at the A6/M55/M6 junction, it may take pressure off Hoyles Lane and Lightfoot Lane and, more importantly in our view, negate the need for Redrow to use Lightfoot Lane as a primary access point to their development as currently proposed in their plans.

It also highlights the absence of any strategic approach to transport infrastructure issues and demonstrates the lack of joined up thinking between the different developers in that the CEG plan includes transport

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LLARA infrastructure proposals that are different to that found in the Redrow application.

Roadside signs

One of our residents has kindly donated a number of signs (approx. 2’ x 2’, similar construction to ‘for sale’ style signs) for display along the local lanes highlighting our objection to the Redrow planning proposal. If you would be happy to display one of these signs then please contact me, David Welton or Simon Bond – details below.

Can I thank you once again for your support, wish you a happy new year and look forward to seeing you on the 26th January

Malcolm Phillips (On behalf of the LLARA Steering Group)

4/1/2013

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