Gladmans application for 80 houses off North End Road Steeple Claydon

14/03046/AOP | Outline planning application with access to be considered and all other matters reserved for up to 80 dwellings (Use Class C3) with associated access and all other matters reserved on land off North End Road, Steeple Claydon. | Land At North End Farm North End Road Steeple Claydon Buckinghamshire

Like many Steeple Claydon residents I am firmly opposed to this planning application.  The following are the main grounds for opposition:

a)  a similar application on the same site was refused in 1989 on the main grounds that it involved significant residential development outside the present built up limits of the settlement and the defined village limits onto surrounding agricultural land.  These grounds for refusal have not changed.

b)  last week Eric Pickles as Secretary of State rejected on appeal an application for 211 houses in Winslow on the grounds that they lay outside the settlement boundary, and said that such applications would only be permitted 'in exceptional circumstances'.

c) this development would encroach on open countryside which was defined as 75-90% landscape sensitivity by AVDC
as stated in its 2011 Steeple Claydon fact pack

d) Any decision would pre-empt both the village's own decisions on future growth patterns as decided in a neighbourhood plan, and AVDC's decisions on future housing growth in the new Vale of Aylesbury Plan which is under development.

e) North End Road is a narrow road with parked cars on both sides.  There are two sharp corners and no pavement.
It would be unable to accommodate the increased traffic movements caused by the development and there would be increased danger to pedestrians and cyclists.

f)  The existing surface water drainage and foul sewerage arrangements in North End Road are already inadequate,
with frequent flooding and sewer blockage.  An additional 80 houses would place an unacceptable additional strain on this.

g)  The additional village population would impact on local amenities such as the surgery and Steeple Claydon school which is already over-subscribed in the reception year.  Parking is already inadequate around the Co-Op corner with a dangerous blind bend.

I have requested that in the event of the application being approved by AVDC planning officers it will be referred to the Strategic Development Control Committee for their decision.  If this happens it is likely to be discussed in their January or February meeting.  I am also trying to get the flooding issue taken up for action by the County Council.

Work on East West Rail in the Claydons

Latest update from East West Rail:

Network Rail’s contactors will be undertaking ground investigation, de-vegetation work and structural surveys on the East West Rail line in your area over the coming months. Line-side residents are being informed of this work by letter.

 

Contractors Bam Ritchie and designers Parsons Brinkerhoff have been instructed to carry out ground investigation surveys which will involve drilling of bore holes, and visual and intrusive surveys of all over-bridges, under-bridges and culverts.

 

A temporary site compound is being set up to the north of the railway at Verney Junction on 8^th December and will be active for around 40 weeks. This will include offices with a generator and will also be used for storage and parking (including storage of large machinery) whilst work is being undertaken on the railway. Residents can expect increased vehicle movements including movement of large machinery. The contractors will aim to keep disturbance to a minimum, however, some disturbance may be unavoidable.

 

Ground investigation surveys and various structural surveys will be undertaken along the mothballed section of the route (between Bletchley and Steeple Claydon) from 5^th January for 20 weeks. Work is scheduled to take place during the daytime, Monday-Friday 7.30am - 4.30pm; this may be extended by an hour in spring time and some work may take place on Saturdays during day light. The site will be closed at 6.30pm.

 

There will be different contractors working on the line and several worksites may be set up in various locations between Bletchley and Steeple Claydon.

 

Also, following on from survey and de-vegetation work completed earlier this year between Bicester and Bletchley a second phase of work in this area has been planned which will involve further vegetation management, general maintenance and upkeep of the railway corridor. This work is due to start in December 2014 for completion in Spring 2015 and will be undertaken in normal day time working hours mid-week and potentially over the weekend, by Network Rail’s contractor. A separate site compound will also be set up on Network Rail’s property, with the same working hours as the above.

 

All Network Rail’s contractors working on site have been briefed on working responsibly in the local community and residents will be kept informed about the work taking place throughout the process.

 

If residents have any questions or concerns about the work, they are advised to contact Network Rail’s 24-Hour National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41 or visit www.networkrail.co.uk.

 

Recycling rates continue to improve

Aylesbury Vale is one of the most improved areas in the country for recycling household waste, according to the latest figures released by Defra.

Figures show that the council has increased levels of recycling from 38 per cent (2012/13) to 51 per cent (2013/14).

Aylesbury Vale District Council is the second most improved council in England and Wales when it comes to diverting waste from landfill and into recycling bins.

Looking back at the 2013/14 figures, AVDC collected an additional 5,019 tonnes of food and garden waste and 2,971 tonnes of dry recyclables compared to 2012/13. That's the weight of about 20 jumbo jets.

The increase in the amount of recycling is due to the fantastic efforts of residents who have embraced the enhanced waste collection service since it was introduced in September 2012.

Residents can now recycle a much wider range of materials and AVDC has made it as simple as possible to recycle by allowing dry recyclables such as paper, plastics, cans and glass to be placed in one container.

The improved system is supported by weekly collections of food waste, as well as an optional subscription-based garden waste collection service. All food and garden waste is composted within a 50 mile radius of the Vale.

In 2011/12, Aylesbury Vale had a recycling rate of 21.5 per cent and was one of the lowest-performing areas in the country.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, said: “The increase in the recycling levels in Aylesbury Vale has been excellent. Across the district, we have seen how residents have embraced the changes to the recycling system and have drastically reduced the amount of waste which is ending up in landfill. We should all be very proud of such an achievement and for making such rapid progress in such a short period of time.”