Today, Michelle has been...

...speaking at the Harrogate Borough Council Planning meeting on behalf of the residents of Redfearn Mews about the proposed White Rose Court Development of 10 houses at the BT training site. The plans can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/69x4gmu 


This application was recommended for approval and although there was some opposition  from 5 members and 1 abstension, this development was approved by members and will be referred to the Head of Planning(to be verified.)


This is what I had to say...

My name is Michelle Woolley and I am the local member for the Rossett Ward. Thank you to the Chairman for allowing me the opportunity to speak today about the White Rose Court development, which is part of the larger BT training site.

Residents of Redfearn Mews will be directly affected by 10 more houses and the opening up of the cul-de-sac to form a continuation road to the BT private road, and they have already expressed their concerns about this development.

Indeed, this committee has on two previous occasions refused planning permission, and it’s only because of a successful appeal by the developers that this is before you today.

Residents on Redfearn Mews (consisting of 38 houses and 6 flats) are rightly concerned that 10 more houses will cause unacceptable traffic congestion both in Redfearn Mews itself and the top end of Hutton Gate. Currently, residents from Hutton Gate are already forced to park their cars on Redfearn Mews as there is insufficient parking, causing congestion at the junction with Hutton Gate.

Furthermore, Hutton Gate was deemed too narrow for a bus and the public service vehicles have difficulty negotiating it.

Aside from the dangers relating to traffic and parking congestion with the development of 10 houses, the bigger picture also needs to be taken into consideration. As I mentioned this site is part of the larger BT site, which is earmarked for 90 houses as seen in the Council’s urban areas consultation, I am referring to area H39. Therefore, opening up the cul de sac for the development of White Rose Court will eventually give access to these 100 houses via Redfearn Mews;  a situation that gives serious cause for concern in terms of the amount of traffic being routed through a narrow road and subsequent parking congestion.

I would prefer to see White Rose Court developed with the future of the whole BT training site in mind, instead of developing it prematurely and in isolation.

I would be grateful if you would take these points into consideration when making your decision. Thank you.