"THIS IS NOT ABOUT MY BACK YARD;
IT IS ABOUT THE NATION'S FRONT GARDEN"
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Response to the DRSS by Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole

Annette Brooke

October 2008: 'Representations on the Draft Revised Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West (July 2008) Incorporating the Secretary of State’s Proposed Changes Re HMA 7, Area of search 7B.'

On behalf of my constituents I am objecting strongly to the proposed 2750 dwellings in the vicinity of Lytchett Minster Village.

  • The level of objection from my constituents is enormous and I would ask you to take notice of all the representations you have received on this issue from individuals and the local Action Groups from Upton, Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers and respond accordingly.
  • In addition, this development is opposed by all relevant democratically elected councils: Purbeck District Council, Dorset County Council, Upton and Lytchett Minster Town Council and Lytchett Matravers Parish Council. I know of no individual elected representative who supports this proposal.
  • The proposed development is in the green belt. A main purpose of the green belt is to prevent urban sprawl and retain the identity of individual communities. There is no justification for changing the green belt boundary in this area as its removal would lead to urban sprawl from Poole and there would be no significant differentiation between Poole and Lytchett Minster. The villages of Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers would be in real danger of losing their important local identities.
  • The proposals would lead to a loss of high quality farm land, the need for such land will become greater over time not less given the current world demand for food and increased food prices. There are also implications for climate change from opening the door to wall to-wall housing across South East Dorset with only the heathland preserved. The latter I understand has a lower level of carbon absorption than farmland and wooded areas. Many constituents are concerned about the potential for increased risk from flooding in this vicinity and will have supplied evidence of current problems which could only be worsened.
  • There is inadequate infrastructure to support this level of development. Apart from increased pressure on schools, hospitals, additional health facilities and other facilities there is a real concern about traffic congestion. There are no proposals to improve the existing road structure – for example, the A350, the A35, and the A351. Indeed it would be impossible to achieve major improvements where needed either because of the built up environment or the heathland environment. The roads through Upton are already over used because of the delay in the construction of a replacement for Poole Bridge. The A350 through Upton has become a major route from the Ferry Terminal in Poole including heavy goods vehicles and car traffic. It is totally unacceptable to consider any significant development until the problems in delivering a new Poole Bridge are resolved and that would appear to be decades away. The A351 and A35 into Wareham and Poole respectively from the Baker’s Arms are constrained by environmental considerations and any improvements would be opposed by Natural England. Demand management by, for example, congestion charging would not be an answer. Businesses would be adversely affected in Poole and tourism throughout Dorset would be affected. Although congestion charging may be a useful tool for some cities we are talking about Dorset which has very different characteristics. Therefore the impact on traffic congestion would be unacceptable.
  • The effect of this large scale development on our habitat and valuable heathlands, most of which have SSSI status and other classifications, is unacceptable. Frequently planning permission is turned down for one single dwelling if it is within 400 metres of a SSSI, how can it be permissible to allow such a large scale development well within the 5 kilometre band?
  • I trust that the detailed evidence from Purbeck District Council, Dorset County Council, Natural England and other bodies will be given full consideration.
  • There is a need for rented and low cost housing for local young people but this is not the way forward. It needs to be provided within local communities in locations and numbers supported by those local communities. More funding is needed for Housing Associations. Housing in Lytchett Minster does not provide the solution for a family, for example, needing housing in Sandford close to support from their extended family.
  • The overall level of development proposed for Purbeck is inappropriate given the many constraints on development – the heathlands, the heritage coast etc. Any development which does take place must be targeted to address real local needs. This is not an area where it is possible to build and build to bring house prices down, the constraints in terms of the environment and infrastructure are too great.
  • Finally the overall strategy is based on assumptions of relatively high growth rates. These are unrealistic in the current economic climate and land should not be blighted now for a situation which may or may not exist in the very long term. I am also deeply concerned by the premise that green field sites can be developed before all brown land is exhausted. This is a policy which must be restored to the status quo – brown land sites across the whole of South East Dorset must be used before the destruction of the green belt is even contemplated.