identifiying GI for protection - The first issue

Object

Representation ID: 2238

Received: 10/02/2012

The proposals map should clearly define these important sites - there is nothing within the current documents that defines any of these areas - you have lumped all green spaces into one swathe of green hatching - this is not what was expected by residents who have raised this issue so many times before. Natural England raised conserns about this and it would appear their advice has been ignored. It is unacceptable that at this stage of the consultation the majority of residents have no idea where these sites are situated in relation to proposed development sites. An appalling situation.

Comment

Representation ID: 2258

Received: 13/02/2012

5.34

The plan at the end of this document does not identify the SSSi's Ancient Woodland, local Wildlife sites or any other important areas.

Natural England in correspondence with you in 2008 specifically said this should be done and criticised HBC for not previously doing this.

And here we are you have still not done it yet claim it is there

Object

Representation ID: 2261

Received: 19/02/2012

Despite Natural England raising concerns regarding the ommission of any indicaton of protected sites within the Core Strategy we have now been informed that the council do not think it is necessary to show these protected sites within this consultation. It beggars belief that anyone could make an informed opinion on any site if they are unaware whether a proposed development will encroach on these special sites. Why are residents being "kept in the dark" on this issue when HBC have produced a map showing these sites but it is not available for public viewing?

Comment

Representation ID: 2371

Received: 16/03/2012

The sandrock park site (N04) would be suitable for allotments where there is a shortage for Hastings residents (A view put to our local councillor recently).

Comment

Representation ID: 2383

Received: 28/03/2012

Halton graveyard.

Is not earmarked as "green space." Question: Why not? It is a historical site/heritage corner of Priory road and Egremont place. Green space in a very dense area is essential

Comment

Representation ID: 2384

Received: 28/03/2012

Edinburgh road/Harley Shute Green Space

Should be marked as green space on LDF as there is a 1950s covenant on this land left for the community by the Kites farm owners.

Landowners: Amicus Horizons, recently held a consultation for potential development which there were very strong local objections too. With the Filsham site and the School sites development the community requests we are left some green space in our community for recreation, we could develop a satellite play area here.

Support

Representation ID: 2473

Received: 23/04/2012

Yes

Support

Representation ID: 2475

Received: 23/04/2012

In your Potential Allocation Sites map you have three sites within the Country Park Nature Reserve which are "Not currently considerable for allocation". These are B46, B47, and C24. The Friends welcome your designation and request that these and any other sites within the CPNR for which planning permission is sought should be refused. We feel that no new development should be permitted within the CPNR. We also feel that any green areas in the borough should be given as much protection from development as possible.

Comment

Representation ID: 2540

Received: 26/04/2012

Rother District Council support the inclusion of greenspace around the fringes. Rother District Council seek to continue the dialogue with Hastings Borough Council on urban fringe management, where appropriate. RDC particularly welcome the identification of greenspace areas which form part of the Combe Valley Countryside Park, but would expect the area identified on the map to continue down to the Mean Low Water Mark as shown in the Combe Valley Countryside Implementation Strategy.

Comment

Representation ID: 2573

Received: 27/04/2012

5.37
Robsack Meadow must be designated as a "green space for protection." Also the ancient woodland surrounding it.

Marlin Woods on Queensway: Further development on the edge of this SSSI should cease.

Comment

Representation ID: 2590

Received: 27/04/2012

Access to green infrastructure is supported, it enables recreation, walking, cycling. The Green Space boundary (area 13) on the AppendixB plan is too "broad brush". The existing Haulfryn Shearbarn Holiday Park to the North&South of Barley Lane, should NOT be included within the Green Space designation. It is an existing developed Holiday Park and a very important tourism accommodation and employment provider. Designating the Holiday Park as "Green Space" will restrict future upgrading and improvement opportunities. Upgrading proposals normally include environmental improvements and enhancing wildlife habitats / increasing biodiversity. Shearbarn Holiday Park should be removed from within Green Space boundary.

Comment

Representation ID: 2618

Received: 27/04/2012

We should be protecting our green spaces and not developing them as they are an easy option. There are 'brown field' sites or buildings falling into disrepair that could be brought back to a useful life. I find it totally unacceptable that 'green field' areas, that are outside of the development areas, are being suggested as suitable sites as they are under used, such as the playing fields on the Ridge. Who is the one to say that they are underused. It seems that people have no right to amenity space when it could be developed.

Support

Representation ID: 2863

Received: 02/04/2012

We support "defining the green infrastructure network" and support paragraph 5.32 regarding the value of open space to people's lives. Your suggested policy, 5.39 should be widened to support better access to open space. We support improvements to the footpath links between Hastings and Guestling to encourage more people to use these routes to access the countryside.

Object

Representation ID: 3058

Received: 27/04/2012

Ref 5.36
No I dont support the boundaries displayed in Appendix B, other areas should be designated.

Comment

Representation ID: 3059

Received: 27/04/2012

Ref 5.37
The northern part of the convent grounds should be designated as private open space as well as the southern part (see comments on part B for details - Ref B31)

Support

Representation ID: 3107

Received: 27/04/2012

lssue 1 - I support the boundaries shown in Appendix B, but the various levels of protection are not shown. If the boundary as shown is retained, I would expect the several green spaces shown as potential development sites to be removed from the list of sites under consideration

Comment

Representation ID: 3132

Received: 08/05/2012

It should be stated (although not raised) that Sandhurst Playing Field should be positively affinned as open space. You have to turn to the maps at the back to find this, but planners currently think of it as 'Housing - sites not currently considered suitable for allocation'. The Borough of Hastings should oppose any development to the north of this site which are outside its boundaries.

Comment

Representation ID: 3139

Received: 08/05/2012

There we other sites 'Housing - sites not currently considered suitable for allocation' - Pilot Field, the Hastings United ground.. . planners have sold short our cricket pitch, keep you hands off oul- football ground; and number of sites off of Hillside Road, which I can't quite identify, but the same criteria as NO4 should apply - open space.

Support

Representation ID: 3143

Received: 27/04/2012

Paras 5.31-5.35 The reference to Green Infrastructure is also welcome. At the moment, the document does not make reference to Accessible Natural Green Space (ANGS) (places where human control and activities are not intensive so that a feeling of naturalness is allowed to predominate). The benefits of ANGS are providing residents with attractive opportunities for exercise and relaxation, with consequent benefits in physical and metal wellbeing. See "Nature Nearby" at http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/40004?category=47004

Where ANGS exists or can be formed through development, or changes in management of more intensive used recreational open space, they should be identified and protected in GI strategies.

Object

Representation ID: 3176

Received: 24/04/2012

IN RESPECT OF 5.36 I CANNOT SAY I SUPPORT THE BOUNDARIES DISPLAYED AS IT IS NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE DESIGNATION OF THE GREEN SPACES ARE, AND I CONSIDER IT IS ESSENTIAL TO IDENTIFY THESE CATAGORIES IN THE NEW PLAN

Support

Representation ID: 3259

Received: 24/04/2012

We support the reasons for including option 1 (need for assessment) and recommend that watercourses are identified in the policy wording. Your policy also identifies the need to protect and manage ecological assets which we support. We suggest that new development may also be required to provide compensatory measures, and the policy should seek to achieve this.

By including watercourses in this policy you will be contributing towards the objectives of the Water Framework Directive and those of the South East River Basin Management Plan (see also comments on site allocations below).

Support

Representation ID: 3318

Received: 26/04/2012

We support the boundaries shown on the 'Protective Designations & Allocations' map at Appendix B of the draft DMP.

Comment

Representation ID: 3324

Received: 25/04/2012

Defining the green infrastructure network

Bourne Leisure supports in principle the Council's aim to identify green infrastructure and open space on a Proposals Map and endorses the following statements (paragraph 5.32 of the consultation document):

"Access to green infrastructure and open space has tremendous value in terms of people's quality of life, providing access to the natural environment and recreational uses. There are also indirect benefits in economic terms of having a good quality natural environment; opportunities are created for leisure and recreation, making the area more attractive to businesses and people alike. "

With reference to the draft Proposals Map at Appendix 6, Bourne Leisure notes that the Combe Valley Countryside Park (formerly the Pebsham Countryside Park), which immediately adjoins the northern edge of Combe Haven Holiday Park, is identified as an open space/ green space. Within this designation, the Company would stress that appropriate tourism, leisure and recreation provision should not be precluded. It should be recognised that such development can be provided within or adjacent to such an identified area, provided that commensurate mitigation measures (such as the inclusion of a buffer zone and appropriate landscaping) are implemented, in order to mitigate both direct and indirect impacts.

In developing policies for the protection and enhancement of green infrastructure, Bourne Leisure considers that the Council should recognise the need to balance environmental considerations, such as the establishment/ protection of green spaces and nature conservation areas, with the economic and social benefits of individual development proposals. This balancing exercise would be entirely consistent with the approach to achieving sustainable development set out in the NPPF, and the Framework's 'presumption in favour of sustainable development', and it should include consideration of the benefits potentially arising from the enhancement (and where appropriate, the extension) of existing tourism facilities and accommodation, and the development of new tourism and leisure uses. All of these factors will be key to ensuring that Hastings remains an important tourism destination on the South Coast.

Support

Representation ID: 3341

Received: 26/04/2012

Paragraph 5.36: The boundaries displayed in appendix B are supported.

Comment

Representation ID: 3371

Received: 27/04/2012

Conserving and enhancing the natural environment

NPPF 109 to 119 inclusive. Speckled Wood should be a Natural Improvement Area.

Comment

Representation ID: 3499

Received: 12/04/2012

What enhancement to the legal requirement that everyone (that includes all the Rate Payers) will enjoy in the green space within 300meters of their front door. An area of 2 hectares or more (wildlife habitats, Butterflies, Wild Orchids rare wild Bees, adgers, Rare Bats and Native Reptiles. We have them all and strange as it may seem many tourists do come to Hastings even to see our native reptiles.