Traffic is the main concern over plans for 1,300 homes in Leckhampton
DEVELOPERS looking to build 1,300 homes in Leckhampton have not answered concerns about the build up of traffic.
This is the claim of campaigners who say it remains unclear how the roads will cope with the massive increase in cars.
They say measures put forward by the planning consortium will not solve potential problems.
Councillor Andrew Chard, (Leckhampton, C) believes traffic concerns arising from the new development, which also includes proposals for a GP surgery, is 'the number one issue' which needs to be addressed.
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He said: "I am extremely concerned about it. The lack of information that's coming forward is very worrying indeed.
"It is not just the houses that have to be serviced. Assuming the doctor's surgery goes ahead there will be people coming from outside the development to go there and they will not be walking – they will drive.
"Also, depending on what shops there are, there will be a certain amount of traffic going in to the development to shop and then there will be visitors, social workers etc, going in and coming out. I think it is going to have a huge effect on traffic flow and I have not heard a good answer to the problems yet."
Kit Braunholtz, chairman of Leckhampton Green Land Action Group (Leglag), said the proposals would result in a 'huge increase' in traffic.
He said: "The 1,300 proposed houses in the area would result in at least 2,000 extra cars using the Leckhampton roads – particularly along Shurdington Road and Church Road, which are already severely congested at peak times."
He added: "The developers have proposed some modifications to the local roads to try and reduce the traffic problems their development would cause, but all the extra cars will still have to exit the proposed site somewhere."
The developers have set out a number of possible measures to help deal with the traffic generated by the development including lowering speeds and reducing congestion in the area. Traffic in Church Road could be slowed with speed bumps and there are plans to improve bus services to the town centre.
Speaking on behalf of the planning consortium Ally Kennedy said: "We understand the traffic situation is an important local issue and we're looking at ways in which we can address this. We hope people will get involved in the public consultation events later this month in terms of putting suggestions and ideas forward in this area."
Comments
by Matt1006
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 11:54AM
“1,300 new homes, so if the standard maximum 1.5 parking spaces per plot is enforced, that's 1,950 off-road parking spaces (including garages). Which will most likely be woefully inadequate, especially as probably at least half of all garages provided will never be used for parking a vehicle (apart from bikes). So they'll be cars parked all over the place, as seen on most recent large housing developments.
The planners might limit parking spaces within a development, but they can't then limit the number of cars & other vehicles that are brought onto the completed development by the occupiers. Sadly this is of no concern to them, or for that matter the developer.
So, potential gridlock on the roads in the vicinity of the development, and within it too.
And if the proposed planning relaxations announced last week do actually come into being, the Section 106 payments from large developments like this could be drastically reduced, so local road improvements in conjunction with large developments could either not happen, or have to be paid for by the local Highways Authority - that would be the tax payer, then.”
by NibNobs
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 7:39AM
“Where are the new jobs in Cheltenham or Gloucester for all these families moving in? They won't all want to work at the town's ONLY growth area.... new build supermarkets.”