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neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Oct 2009 : 20:05:12
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I conclude residents of The Dell and particularly Greenwood Drive went to the exhibition today to see the proposals and options of West Sussex County Council for building a new floodlit synthetic all-weather pitch in The Angmering School's grounds.
Site traffic will be coming up Greenwood Drive from Station Road into the school grounds for 4 months, although we are told that most of the plant will be brought on site at the beginning of the project and will stay there until completion. WSCC seem to be totally oblivious to the decision they made for the new 6th Form building where it was a condition that site traffic would not be routed through Greenwood Drive due to its unsuitability!
Support or objections need to be submitted to Charles Planning Associates by 31 October.
Today's exhibition was advertised on my News page on 9 October and on my Events page. |
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deb8
Average Member
59 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 08:26:15
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Neil
I entirely agree - access through Greenwood Drive would be totally unsuitable.
I stand firm on my suggestion that it is time for WSCC to seek a new entrance to Angmering School from the A259. They also need to provide suitable parking for the growing number of cars.
On my post concerning a 'new entrance to Angmering School', it was mentioned that Councillor Bicknell was looking into the parking/poss access situation - does anyone know the outcome??
I wonder whether it would be possible to have a petition, held at the APC offices, for those who feel that the project should not go ahead until a new school entrance from the A259 and parking have been provided.
If this project goes ahead through Greenwood Drive, we might just as well mark The Dell as a Car Park !! |
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BRAM
Advanced Member
373 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 10:18:13
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| Welcome to the world of Bramley Green residents, but we've got it for 12 months not 4. |
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GrumpyGirl
Average Member
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 11:43:01
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The issue of contractors' lorries accessing the school 6th form building site via Bramley Green is still very much live - as noted BG residents still have another 9 months' misery and health & safety risk to endure on that. BG residents have proposed several times to WSCC that the contractors working on the school 6th form building site should access that site from Station Road via a new temporary contruction route (not via Greenwood Drive but south of there). We are all still waiting for WSCC to respond on that but they continue not to care.
Taking that outstanding issue together with the proposed school floodlit pitch project, I'd suggest a single contractros' access solution for both projects should be pursued, from Station Road but south of Greenwood Drive, with the work on the floodlit pitches commencing only once the school 6th form building is complete.
It's also been reported that there is a bat colony that lives in the trees surrounding the school pitches. Surely any proposal for floodlit night use of the school pitches would damage the bat's habitat and break the law as they are a protected species ? |
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deb8
Average Member
59 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 13:59:48
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BRAM and Grumpy Girl
Thank you for your posts. I am aware of your disruptions - indeed I think you will find my posts on the CC and school building work attest to this fact. What can I say, I empathised - 'I FEEL YOUR PAIN . . .'
As with many council projects, it would appear the cart has been put before the horse!! If a new entrance to the school and parking had been dealt with first, your problems and Dell possible problems would have been eleviated.
I still feel that a new entrance should be made from the A259 - in before the traffic light and out, after the traffic light - to ease traffic problems.
What does appear blatantly obvious is that a new entrance would eleviate both our issues... Dell residents have been putting up with disruptions from school cars, parking and football meets for years!!
When you suggest South of Greenwood Drive, do you mean where the Football Hut is presently situated?? Does anyone know who owns the grassland along the A259??
If all else fails, does anyone know a bunch of travellers who can lay a road over a Bank Holiday and then move on!!  |
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GrumpyGirl
Average Member
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 16:54:11
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Agree entirely about the need for a new school entrance route, which would solve all of the problem issues of (a) use of unsuitable Bramley Green roads for construction access; (b) undesirable use of Greenwood Drive for access to proposed work on the synthetic pitches; and (c) relief of Greenwood Drive congestion for general school children and staff access.
WSCC's letter to BG residents of 4th September included comments from their own Highways officers that indicate that the Station Road access proposal is certainly feasible. A proposal for a new school entrance route off Station Road for (a) and (c) above was therefore raised by BG residents in a letter to WSCC on 7th September, but despite the confrimed feasibility of that proposal, that has been completely ignored by WSCC councillors and officers to date.
According to the plans in the appendices to WSCC's planning application A/11/09 for the new 6th form school building, all of the grasslands and playing fields south of the Angmering School and north of the A259 are owned by WSCC (i.e. the perpetrators of both the Bramley Green construction access route and the proposed synthetic floodlit piches). That WSCC owned land stretches from Station Road in the west until you reach land in the east owned by Angmering Parish Council, near the mobile phone mast to the east of the perimeter fencing around the school land and west of the public footfath from Bramley Green to the A259.
There hence appears little reason why a temporary construction traffic route could not be established by WSCC from Station Road across their land south of Greenwood Drive, which could be used for (a) the school 6th form centre building site, thus alleviating Bramley Green, (b) for subsequent work on the school pitches; and then (c) finally for a permanent new entry/exit route for the school. |
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Bert
Advanced Member
484 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 17:47:31
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GrumpyGirl,
I was interested to know how things had progressed, if at all, with the HGV's on BG, as we had the forums suspended during September and therefore no news.
I know from a previous posting of yours that Deborah Urquart, West Sx. County Councillor for Angmering, attended one of your previous meetings re the HGV's, but in light of the additional matter, if you are not in regular contact with her, you should be transferring some of your stress and concern onto her shoulders.
Although she is part of WSCC, her primary role is to represent you and your concerns. If she is not doing so, in my opinion, she should be. I understand she is very helpful and quite influential within WSCC
Your points re land, which appears to be WSCC land, are very valid, you are entitled to some answers. |
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GrumpyGirl
Average Member
United Kingdom
88 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 18:16:27
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| Unfortunately Bert, Deborah Urquhart's contribution as our local Conservative elected representative in resolving the Bramley Green road construction access issue has been extremely disappointing. She attended the public meeting held in Bramley Way on 27th August with 30 residents and 3 WSCC project management officers, and said that she would help to arrange a further public meeting with senior officers & councillors from Planning, Highways & other relevant areas of WSCC. Some 8 weeks later, residents have received no indication at all either from Deborah or from anyone at WSCC about any further meeting, despite much correspondance and further complaints being registered during September. |
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neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 19:34:26
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For anyone who was unable to attend yesterday's exhibition, you can obtain plans of the two remaining options (i.e. Nos. 4 & 6) and a copy of the Comments Form by clicking on the undermentioned link to a PDF file (large file - may take a little while to download):
www.angmeringvillage.co.uk/forums/pics/pitch.PDF
Comments must be returned to Charles Planning Associates by 31 October.
When I spoke to the WSCC officers present and the Charles representative, they were somewhat taken back when I said that WSCC had previously rejected Greenwood Drive as a safe and suitable access for the 6th Form College project, so why was it now suitable for this latest project? They did not know and admitted that they would have to go back and discuss the matter further. Clearly different departments had not communicated with one another.
I also suggested that as they said that much less traffic would be coming onto the school site for this latest project, why could not there not be access be made from the A259? The argument seems to be that they have not much time to replan as they could miss the deadline for the grant that would fund the artificial pitch and lighting.
Notwithstanding this, Option 6 looks the better bet as it would shield more local properties from most light pollution. |
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Bert
Advanced Member
484 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 19:46:01
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I think it is extremely disappointing that you and your BG resident friends have not been updated by Deborah Urquart on this matter.
Even if it is to tell you that she is not able to help.
With the additional building matter raised by Neil, again at Angmering School, and the issues over access, I would have thought the elected representative and officers of WSCC would have indicated a far more sympathetic approach.
Clearly that is too much to expect. Very disappointing. |
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neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 20:03:11
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I've just spoken to Deborah Urquhart a few minutes ago and I can tell you that she has only comparatively recently found out about this latest project when an almost stray copy email arrived in her mailbox!
I've alerted her to the issues being raised here on the Forums and she will be taking up the matter tomorrow at County Hall. I think she should be given a little time to act. |
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deb8
Average Member
59 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 20:41:49
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It seems to me that the logical approach would be to build a new entrance to Angmering School and THEN consider any upgrading that may be necessary.
It beggars belief that the Planning Committee can possibly rush through 'plans' in order to secure a grant. Angmering School has managed without a floodlit pitch thus far, build the necessary new access to the school first, then parking then make plans for future improvements to the school .... it is called 'forward planning'.
Quite frankly I find the lack of communication between departments quite shocking.
Do we know what feedback Councillor Bicknell gave with regard to Angmering School access yet? Have he and Councillor Urquhart discussed his findings?? |
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neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 20:58:47
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A concern being raised last night was the availability of the pitch to the local community. WSCC were a bit coy about pricing (although it obviously had been discussed), but admitted the cost might be between £40 and £60 per hour. They believe that if the pitch was divided into three (say for a five-a-side), the cost for one third of the pitch should not exceed £20 per hour!
One of my concerns was actually booking the pitch through The Angmering School. From personal experience I have found it impossible to book a school facility during school holidays as there is nobody there to take a booking. They stated that they were sure this would all change when the new facility was up and running but I'm not sure the matter had been discussed with the School. |
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Maxiboost
Average Member
United Kingdom
37 Posts |
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neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2009 : 23:57:38
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I'm not sure there is any difference on the surrounding trees to be planted in both Options 4 and 6. Both may be the same although this may not be clear from the plans.
The spoil taken from the excavation of each pitch would be used to create a bund on top of which it is intended to plant trees. The same amount of spoil would be produced from each option. It is not the intention to remove this from the site.
Light from the the site of Option 6 would be shielded by the school buildings and would not be so intrusive on nearby properties as would be in the case for Option 4. In the case of Option 4, it would be very intrusive for the owner of Older's bungalow in Station Road which is relatively close to Option 4. Likewise, school buildings would shield some of the noise from the site from Dell residents.
Incidentally, an WSCC official at the exhibition suggested that most hirers would arrive in mini-buses, thus reducing the amount of vehicles coming to use the pitch. 
Perhaps someone else could comment on the latest time the pitch would be used. I don't know the answer. |
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Maxiboost
Average Member
United Kingdom
37 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 09:00:42
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Yes, all fair points Neil.
Maybe a silly question, but do we know what happened to the other options? I am assuming they got rejected at an earlier 'round' ? |
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Mr C
Average Member
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2009 : 09:53:43
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It was mentioned on Wednesday evening that the pitch could be available to hire until 10.00 pm, the time that the school is usually open until.
The other options were rejected at an earlier stage due to factors such as: poor use of field space, more intrusive on surrounding houses etc |
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neil
Forum Owner / Moderator
United Kingdom
2623 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2010 : 20:00:06
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As some residents of Greenwood Drive will have noticed, West Sussex County Council has applied to itself for planning permission for the floodlit pitch at The Angmering School. Full details of the application can be found at:
http://eplanning.westsussex.gov.uk/ePlanningOPS/tabPage3.jsp?aplId=1170
During the consultation phase, residents had expressed concern over access of construction traffic. Here is what the Planning Design and Access Statement has to say on the subject:
quote:
Access for Construction Traffic
6.6 In light of the sensitivities regarding the construction traffic associated with the sixth form building accessed via the Bramley Green development, which coincided with the public exhibitions held for the application proposals, a Logistics Plan (attached at DOC 7) was displayed in order to inform local residents at an early stage of the Applicants intention regarding the access for construction traffic.
6.7 It became evident at the first public exhibition held in October that a number of local residents, including the local Member Deborah Urquhart and the Chair of Angmering Parish Council, questioned the suitability of the existing access arrangement to accommodate construction traffic.
6.8 Following the event advice was sought from the County Highways
Department to establish if in principle there would be an objection on highway safety grounds to using the existing school access via Greenwood Drive as the means of access for construction traffic. County Highways confirmed that, given the level of construction traffic that will be associated with this project and the proposed location of the synthetic turf pitch, there is no Highways objection to a construction traffic access via Greenwood Drive, subject to a restriction on construction traffic at the start and end of the school day.
6.10 However, notwithstanding that the existing school access via Greenwood Drive is therefore a potential option, as a result of comments received from residents and a request from the local member, Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council explored the potential of an alternative access for construction traffic direct from Station Road via the land leased to Rustington Parish Council.
6.11 This potential option was displayed on a revised Logistics Plan at the second public exhibition held in November and a copy is attached at DOC 8.
6.12 Whilst an access for construction traffic direct from Station road is preferable to the school’s existing access, it is subject to approval by Rustington Parish Council and in this respect discussions are ongoing.
6.13 However, Rustington Parish Council has indicated that subject to the confirmation of and acceptance of final details it has no objection, in principle, to an access being taken through the car park associated with Woodland Park Sports Field.
6.14 West Sussex County Council is continuing to pursue this option. In the event that this issue remains unresolved prior to the determination of the application, it is considered that the matter is capable of being dealt with through the imposition of an appropriately worded Condition.
Any comments on Planning Application WSCC/040/10/A need to be made to WSCC by 15 April. |
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