Residents will have received communications regarding two development proposals on land off Tythe Barn Lane and Tilehouse Lane. At this stage they are just proposals but need to be taken seriously because the land forms a site within the Local Development Plan. This is not to be interpreted as a ‘done deal’ but we know the planning inspector did not make any untoward comment about the site when he held an examination of the plan in public last year – as long as certain infrastructure issues are dealt with.
As well as tackling highways congestion, one concern is the replacement of sports facilities that will be lost if the development goes ahead as proposed. Developers will not submit any planning application unless they feel they have satisfactorily made provision for replacement sports facilities, to at least ‘as good as’ standard; in practice we do demand a certain amount of betterment. They have failed to do this and it is their responsibility.
There is currently no formal planning application therefore there is, in effect, little to make any formal objection to. However, your Blythe Councillors have great reservations about the proposals and will want to see the sports facilities remain where they are now and not be moved miles away. This will be a key issue for local residents and your Councillors.
Local resident and campaigner, Keith Green says;
I’ve spoken to several people at the drop in event at Highgate United’s clubhouse and can say that as a PE teacher and supporter of our local sports clubs, I am opposed to the proposals put forward by Richborough Estates. I have supported clubs like Highgate United and Leafield since boyhood, they need to stay in the local area.
Flooding issues
Resent storms weren’t nearly as bad here as it was in other parts of the UK, but they did bring a stark reminder that there are local flooding issues to be addressed and not ignored by potential developers.
Tythe Barn Lane, Rumbush Lane and Dickens Heath Road (at several locations) saw flood water making vehicle access difficult, or in some cases impossible. It is fair to say that water running off neighbouring fields added to the problem but storm drains failed to cope with the continued heavy rainfall.
Cllr Ken Hawkins has collated dozens of images of the flooding and effects it had and these will be used to help rebuff any potential planning application in Tythe Barn Lane and Tilehouse Lane. Ken said;
Dickens Heath was inaccessible due to flooding and blocked by abandoned vehicles. Unless there is vast investment in storm drains and sewers developments won’t be sustained or supported in Dickens Heath.
