The town council are a consultee on planning applications. We do not make the decisions, but we are invited by the planning authority, Vale of White Horse District Council, to make comments.
I write with reference to the following application:
P21/V3041/FUL (Full Application) Minor Proposal: Erection of 9no. two storey dwellings (5no.detached and 4no. semidetached), including garages, parking areas, cycle stores, bin stores and landscaping. Provision of new vehicular entrance. Address: Land at Fernham Road Faringdon SN7 7LB
We wanted residents to know that Faringdon Town Council STRONGLY OBJECTS to this application based on the following:
- Noise: Properties are close to A420, this will not provide an acceptable environment for residents
- Traffic generation, parking and highway safety: Fernham Road is highly developed. Traffic levels and parking are already a concern and safety is an issue with access to schools and Leisure Centre on this road.
The access is narrow and sight lines are a concern.
Access to this site would be better via Ampthill Way
There is no crossing over the A420 as stated in the application. If further development were to take place in this area a safe crossing should be a condition.
The site is connected by a gravel footpath to the neighbouring estate (Fernham Fields), this must be adequate for both foot and cycle traffic especially as this will provide the principal means of access to Faringdon Community College (and possibly the new Primary School on Sandshill) from all the estates on Coxwell Rd.
3. Amenity considerations:
Cycle travel times to amenities has been understated in the application.
Facilities are grossly underprovided in the Town, in particular sports pitches. Any further development must make land provision for these.
4. Neighbourhood Development Plans:
The development is outside the development boundary
The application does not refer to the correct Neighbourhood Plan. This area is covered in the Gt. Coxwell Plan and Not the Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan, although the boundary has now moved the relevant plan is the one that covers the area when written.
The Town Council considers development of this site over development of the area. The site would be much better utilised as a sports pitch.
5. Air quality for residents living so close to the A420
If you would like to comment on the application, you can do so via the district council website using the planning reference. The full link is here:
https://data.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P21/V3041/FUL