HULCOTE & SALFORD PARISH COUNCIL Clerk: Mrs Lyn Lyman Lodge Cottage School Lane Husborne Crawley Bedfordshire MK43 0UY Tel: 01908 584159 [email protected] Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House Monks Walk Chicksands Shefford SG17 TQ 18th August 2017 Dear Sirs, Draft Local Plan Consultation (July 2017) Further to the draft local plan for Central Bedfordshire published for consultation in July 2017 we set out below our comments:- Infrastructure There is no suitable east west route for traffic on the western edge of Bedfordshire adjoining Milton Keynes. While it is to be hoped that the EW Rail development when completed will replace some car journeys, the country lanes through Hulcote and Salford, Brogborough, Ridgmont, Husborne Crawley, Aspley Guise are simply incapable of handling the increased traffic that would result from concentrating new housing development along the county boarder. Examples of why the road network is already incapable are:- 1. Currently Local Residents are unable to exit driveways and local lanes due to the volume of traffic using the local roads as better alternatives do not exist. 2. Pedestrians cannot safely walk between Hulcote and Salford on the Salford road. 3. The access to Sustrans Route for cyclists and equestrian users is not used to potential as the network directs users onto roads that are unsafe for walkers, cyclists and riders. 4. Village residents and visitors will have their day to day lives damaged significantly if the proposals went ahead without a comprehensive, transport strategy that is independently tested and verified. No development should be considered until a comprehensive and deliverable traffic strategy that addresses all road user issues for the area is produced and the necessary funding for it secured. Country lanes through Central Bedfordshire villages are inadequate to handle today’s traffic levels let alone that which would arise from any further development surrounding Cranfield. As far as we are aware there is no deliverable and affordable traffic scheme for the southern edge of Milton Keynes that could handle the increase in traffic that would be generated by the proposed increase in development. Such a strategy will become even less viable if the electrification of the Bletchley to Bedford rail line is undertaken with the likely resulting closure of several level crossings. The possibility of a new Junction 13A on the M1 motorway was considered during the public examination into the dualling of the A421 between Bedford and Junction 13 but was ruled out by the Highways Agency on both cost and safety grounds. The East – West Expressway is indicated on the plan, however, we understand that the project is still at an extremely early design stage with no detailed work having been done. The focus at the moment is to establish a business case for the scheme and a preferred route prior to going to public consultation around 2020. We believe given an easy run through the approval process construction might be able to take place between 2025-2030. Given the likely impact this will have on our community and environment it seems short-sighted to propose three villages that will be reliant upon this route. The proposal of a logistics hub at Junction 13 of the M1 and the current announcement of a major expansion to Cranfield University as an international air traffic control training centre, will also need careful infrastructure and environmental consideration. If such developments are deemed essential and are to be approved, irrespective of the visual impact upon Marston Vale, they must have direct access from main arterial roads such as the A421 or M1. Community Facilities No mention of providing extra Hospitals, Schools or Community Facilities for the large number of new dwellings proposed. The Hospitals in Milton Keynes and Bedford is inadequate to deal with the current population and we would have expected this to be one of the Key provisions to be provided. Rural impact by large scale development. The emerging Environmental Framework for Central Bedfordshire being prepared by CBC identifies sensitive areas including the Aspley Guise triangle which includes an important part of the planned Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park. It is essential that the development of new housing areas respects the character of the existing historic settlements on the western edges of the of the county including Aspley Guise, WoburnSands, Bow Brickhill, Aspley Heath, Wavendon, Husborne Crawley, Hulcote and Salford, Ridgmont, Brogborough and Cranfield, and that coalescence between these settlements and the new developments are avoided, as stated repeatedly in the Draft Local Plan. However, the housing proposal, as stated in the Draft Local Plan will change completely the rural habitation that has existed to date and turn the area into another characterless urban blight that will destroy the current community and traditional villages. No acknowledgement of Plan: MK We believe that the draft plan has not been considered with Milton Keynes Borough council as their recent consultation on Plan:MK has identified further housing developments adjacent to our parish. By our rough math’s we believe 16,000 homes plus significant employment land developments are planned within a 4 mile radius of Salford having a detrimental impact on our rural community. With CBC and MK seemingly unable to speak to each other we have little confidence that a joined up roads, walkways and footpaths strategy that considers local rural impact will be delivered. We hope the above comments are helpful in continuing the development of Local Plan. Yours faithfully Paul Harris Paul Harris - Vice Chairman Hulcote & Salford Parish Council.