Advice on how to object to a housing development

Robbie_Duck

A turning count records individual movements at a junction. ie, how many vehicles turn right, how many turn left etc on each arm of the junction.

It would be better to demonstrate that it will cause queuing rather than saying you believe it will. Like I said, every time you turn right into your street, time how long it takes. Stand at the junction in the PM peak and count how many cars queue up behind the right turners. You can then do a rough and ready calc to work out the delay to the mainline traffic and the expected queue lengths.

You should concentrate on right turns out of the Close in the Morning and right turns into the Cul de Sac in the PM.

Visibility will lead onto this and will be a very good argument. Especially if you can show that the queues will extend onto the bend. Has there been any accidents at the junction in the last few years?

Count how many people use the bus stop in the morning. How many from your cul de sac use it regularly? If you can show that x people from x house use the bus stop regulary this might be used as ammunition against their assumptions.

The TA, when submitted will present a, existing traffic conditions and b, expected traffic conditions with the development in place. I would have thought they will propose some sort of junction improvements whether it be signals or dedicated right turn lanes. Unfortunately this developers are pretty clued up and know what they need to do to satisfy the highway authority. This doesn’t mean they cant be beaten though!

Unfortunately, given my job, I cant get too involved but if you want me to read through any of your points or discuss specific advice, PM me and I will try to reply as soon as possible,

LTA

Gotcha!

Right I'll try and find all that out.

Thanks so much. I'll PM you if I need to know more. Thanks again.

ukmaggie45

Any bats in the area? Protected species, and I think that their fly pattern counts? Their nesting habitats certainly do. (parents had bats in their roof)

Any other protected species? Can't give more suggestions really as not knowledgeable enough... We used to have owls across the road from us, but they went when a couple of bungalows got built in the "wood" that belonged to the local Big House when it got sold off years ago now. I miss the owl screeching still.

LTA

Someone said there was bats in the trees but I've not seen any and I don't know how you'd find out for sure. Would the building company not have looked for things like that?

Altarf

Robbie_Duck wrote: »

An A road is likely to have had several traffic counts on it in recent years. Your council highways department may allow you access to these.

As suggested, ask them nicely first, but if they refuse submit a Freedom of Information Act request, and ask for the information to be sent to you electronically by email as there should then be no cost to you.

I have found that when FOI was introduced most councils automatically refused to provide anything if you just asked, and you had to do an FOI. Now it is 50/50 whether they will provide the information if you just ask, but I find that in 80% of the cases that they refuse, if you then mention FOI, they will give it to you without needing to do an FOI because they know the game is up, and complying with an FOI is a lot more paperwork.

It is well worth asking for the information. I stopped my council installing speedbumps in a local street after I asked for the raw analysis data, and found that they had been running two traffic surveys at the same time and had mistakenly swapped the data (so that explains all those cars doing 40mph in a 30mph road, and cars doing 30mph in a 40mph road). And this was after they had given the (wrong) information to the local councillors, who then went on to spout to the press about it. Quite a few red faces when they all had to admit their mistake and instead of 90% of the cars breaking the speed limit, it was about 9%.

Anyway, back on topic, I would also recommend attending a council planning committee meeting preferably before you submit your objections and certainly before the application is heard, if someone from your community is going to speak to object to the application.

Prepare to be horrified. There are some sensible councillors on planning committees, but from what I have seen they are rare. From the meetings I have attended there are a lot who will vote based on their personal or political view, irrespective of any arguments - good for business - yes, green belt land - no, application from a farmer - yes, etc

The most ridiculous thing I heard was when one councillor argued with the rest of the committee for 5 minutes, as she was convinced that 100 meters was twice the distance of 100 yards. And she was voting on the application. As I said, prepare to be horrified.

beverleyhills

What impact will the additional residents in the area have on the GP practice and local schools?

Altarf

Provide the GP with additional funding, so they can expand and offer better services. Enable the local school that had falling numbers to stay open, due to all the young families with children moving in.

I am not serious with the above, but mention it to point out that the additional housing may not be bad for everyone in the area, and there may be some people (other than the developer) arguing for the application.

LTA

Looks like there may be a traffic report. Each one costs £50, do they still charge under FOI?! Sure I can raise that between a few people but I suppose I expected it to be free or at an admin charge.

We have a local councillor on the case but I personally am a bit concerned that the councillor concerned keeps telling us how much the area needs housing. This worries me as she is supposed to be speaking on behalf of opposing a housing development. We shall see!

Altarf

The report may be chargeable, but you should be able to get the source data under FOI. The council (or local library) may hold a viewing copy of the report.

The council can only charge under FOI for more than £450 of time, based on £25 per hour (and no council officers don't get paid that, before anyone says). They can also charge you for photocopying (usually 10p per sheet) and postage. However you can request that it be sent to you by electronic means, which means no photocopying or postage costs. Personally I have never been charged for any of the FOI requests I have submitted, and there have been quite a few to different authorities over the years.

As for the councillor. What did I say a few posts ago, not everyone may see it as a bad thing.

LTA

We shall see. It's difficult when someone is trying to help but there does seem to be a conflict of interest there which worries me.