AAP 4th July 2007
Article by Chris Jerrey.
Last night the Better Environment Advisory Group (BEAG) of Mid Sussex District Council considered the latest transport reports related to the EGAAP.
The reports are by Savell Bird and Axon (SBA) commissioned by the housebuilder consortium http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/Nimoi/sites/msdcpublic/resources/STAR%5F1506...
... and Peter Brett Associates (PBA) commissioned by WSCC to comment on the SBA report http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/Nimoi/sites/msdcpublic/resources/PBASummaryR...
BEAG advises full council and cabinet on environmental policy and at this meeting decided to recommend that the AAP proceed with relief road options 1b/2c/3b.
Lib Dem leader Edward Matthews proposed an amendment which called for the examination of a further option (DS10) which would include a smaller housing development and a relief road going no further south than Turners Hill Road. Judith Hewitt hoped to be able to produce analysis of this option by the full council meeting on 25th July 2007.
My analysis of the situation is as follows:
MSDC are determined to create a substantial "strategic development" to the south west of East Grinstead. This is called for in the WSCC Structure Plan. This also fits in with the general demand by central goverment for more housing to be built in the South-East. MSDC are under pressure to provide around 14,000 new homes in the district over the next 20 years. 30% of this strategic development will be affordable housing which does provide a real social benefit for the town.
Whilst a large scale housing development on a greenfield site is unappealing, the pressure for housebuilding is relentless and is endorsed at the highest level. The AAP does offer the local community the benefits of developer funded infrastructure improvements that would not be available if piecemeal development went ahead. Through my involvement with the St Johns Road campaign I have personal experience of the relentless pressure exerted by government to build in this area. I am quite sure that if the AAP fails, the planning vacuum will be filled by piecemeal developments in the town that will not carry the benefits of affordable housing and infrastructure improvements.
Planned infrastructure improvements include long overdue improvements to junctions on the existing road network (A22/A264). It is a terrible shame that essential investment in the town's transport network can seemingly only be achieved as a result of accepting large numbers of new houses. The improvements also include a relief road to the south of the town.
If, as seems inevitable, the new houses are built to the west of town a relief road of some form will have to be built to get traffic in and out of the development to the A264 to Crawley. The reports referred to above claim that the town will benefit from a full relief road running from the A264 at Doves Barn through to the A22 at Brambletye Bends. I do not believe this case has been made.
The reports do show that journey times through East Grinstead would be reduced by a full relief road. However this will be achieved at a cost of at least £27 million for the eastern section, damage to the High Weald AONB and impact on many people living in Herontye ward. Differences in journey times through town where a full or partial relief road are built, are minimal. I do not believe that the costs justify the benefits.
I put forward this point of view at BEAG last night and I will continue to do so.
To conclude, a summary of my position.
Lib Dems are in a minority position on MSDC and lack the members to resist a strategic development. Given the pressure from the central government, a development is likely to be built. I will strive to achieve maximum benefit in terms of infrastructure improvements and affordable housing from this situation.
I am not convinced of the benefit of the eastern section of a relief road and believe that it's impact on the AONB and local people is such that it should not be built. I will resist the inclusion of option 3b in a relief road plan.
Chris Jerrey
4th July 2007