Greenacres still green!

A good debate by the South Cambs planning committee about the planning application for 35 houses at Greenacres in Duxford. 

Mick Martin, Duxford district councillor spoke against the proposed development focussing on the impact of routing access to the new development down St Johns Street  and round into Greenacres. He noted that the walking bus approach that Duxford had instigated whereby parents help organise children walking safely to school (sounds a bit like the old-style school crocodile, but never mind, its a good thing) would not be continued if this development went ahead, given the additional traffic along St Johns.

I also attended spoke against the proposal, in my role as county councillor, focussing on the traffic plan which the developers had commissioned, and its deficiencies. 

The developer reminded the committee that because south cambs does not have a five years land supply that is a factor to be taken into account. Cllr Sebastian Kindersly noted back that there were other factors to be taken into account, including sustainability and whether the village was suitable for such a large development. Our local MP, Heidi Allen, who attended one of the meetings in the village, before the election, wrote against the proposal and her letter was read out.

The committee voted against the development - 11 against, 2 abstentions. 

I think this is a good result, because while it isnt the case that there cannot be any development, it is crazy to route access down one of the narrowest streets in Duxford, where half the village children walk to school. It is does also, for me, raise the continual concerns that the county highways assessors, who have to give their opinion of the planning application, have limitations as to what they can comment on.