Online Comments

Application No: 19/05824/OUT

My wife and I wish to register our objection to this Outline Planning Application for the reasons given below. In doing so, we strongly support the submission by Parish Council, who have presented their arguments very fully and very clearly. Rather than repeating their arguments, we wish to emphasise certain points.

We write as residents for 12 years on Harnham Road, and from the perspective that both of us are regular car users and cyclists in Harnham and .

We do not object to the building of new houses in principle, but we do object to this application at this time for the following reasons in particular:

• Any decision would be premature, as the Planning Inspector has not yet submitted his final report on the Draft Housing Site Allocation Plan, and indeed he has indicated that he wishes to see much clearer policies in a number of areas affecting this site before he can approve it.

• The developer’s assertion that most local journeys are made by walking is, in this context, nonsense. It is true that some people do walk from central Harnham into Salisbury city centre, either along Town path or through the Close. But many choose to go by car, and some take the R5 bus. Walking from the proposed development into Salisbury would be much further, so not a practical proposition for most people. This is Comments: particularly the case for anyone who is disabled or has mobility problems, of whom there are significant numbers in Harnham as it is now, and this would presumably be repeated in any new development. It is also entirely impractical to walk to the hospital, or to any employment areas in the city or to the north. We therefore support the argument by Netherhampton PC that the assessment of the impact from increased traffic from the development is heavily understated, and will be severe. As residents on Harnham Road, we are very aware of the growth of traffic along the Harnham Road over the last 10 years, even without any significant new developments to the west in that time.

• We believe that no further development along Netherhampton Road should be agreed until clear and acceptable plans are in place for mitigation of the pressure on both the Park Wall and Harnham Gyratory junctions. This is not the case at present.

• As cyclists, we are particularly aware of the highly unsatisfactory and indeed dangerous situation for cyclists on Harnham and Netherhampton Roads. Apart from a short stretch on the south side of New Harnham Road going west from the Gyratory, and some inadequate provision beyond Wellworthy Drive, there is no dedicated cycle provision. Given the width of the road, and the existence of regular traffic islands, this means that cyclists either delay the traffic as cars and especially heavy lorries are not able to overtake, or cyclists take to the pavement, which is illegal, dangerous to pedestrians, and can risk accidents as cars come out of driveways. If are committed to promoting cycling, then a dedicated cycle path all along Harnham and Netherhampton Roads is an absolute necessity, even with existing traffic, let alone if there were to be an increase from further development. It is true that cyclists could take Upper and Middle Street and the Town path to get into the city centre, but they must be able to get safely to Upper Street. And if they are going to Southampton Road or the hospital, they would need to follow Harnham Road.

• We are also concerned at the risk of further increase to air pollution along Harnham and Netherhampton Roads, particularly as it is a regular walking route for local families with children attending Harnham Junior and Infants Schools. This needs to be carefully assessed before there is any further stimulus to traffic growth.

• We also believe that the possible risk of increased flooding from water runoff from a new development into Netherhampton should be carefully assessed as part of the examination of any new development south of Netherhampton Road.

In summary, we therefore object to any decision being taken on planning applications for further development on Netherhampton Road until:

• The Planning Inspector has reported, and approved, or not approved, the site;

• The likely increase in traffic has been realistically assessed, and clear mitigation measures at the Park Wall and Harnham Gyratory junctions have been proposed, consulted on, agreed and put in hand;

• Dedicated provision for cyclists has been put in place throughout Harnham and to the west to any proposed development;

• The risk of unacceptable levels of air pollution along Harnham and Netherhampton Roads has been properly assessed;

• The flooding risk from any new development has been properly assessed, and mitigation measures considered.

Name: Charles Woodd

94 Harnham Road Harnham Address: Salisbury WILTSHIRE SP2 8JW

Date: 25/07/2019