The Chairman of the Town Council has called an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to discuss the Councils comments on the Hill Top Housing development Planning Application 19 00742 FULL.
Members of the public are asked to put any questions in writing to the Council in advance of the Meeting so that these can be answered effectively during the Meeting. Please contact the Clerk by email- Clerk@leyburntowncouncil.gov.uk to request the details to join the meeting and to submit questions.
Members of the public are reminded that they may speak ONCE to the Council to put their opinion forward and have 3 minutes each to do so.
The Council have invited and requested that a representative from Yorvik Homes attends the Meeting also, but Yorvik have NOT confirmed that they will available to answer questions.
As a resident of Moor Road, Leyburn, I would urge the Town Council to strongly oppose the proposed development on the following grounds:
1. Moor Road safety and access to the site
It is estimated the new estate would create more than 300 additional vehicle movements per day, with the only proposed access onto Moor Road opposite the council depot, a stretch of road with poor sight lines and high traffic volumes, particularly large farm tractors and construction lorries. The spot has been targeted by police speed cameras, with considerable evidence the 30mph limit is frequently disregarded. Most of Moor Road lacks a footway, and it is too dangerous for existing residents to use to walk into Leyburn centre. It is absurd to suggest the main pedestrian access to the site would be on Moor Road. The alternative footpath link to Thornborough Hall Gardens is topographically unsuitable. The result would be even more use of cars by residents of the new estate.
It is to be hoped the Town Council will endorse and draw attention to the detailed objections from the Local Highway Authority.
2. Sustainability and housing mix
The site fails to provide sustainability in terms of access to public transport, pedestrian access and for cyclists. The applicants have failed to explain what local employment opportunities are available and have sidestepped concerns about the ability of local schools, GPs and dentists to cope with such a large development.
The proposed housing mix does not meet the government’s requirement for affordable housing, and the scale of the development is larger than envisaged in the local plan.
3.The site was the source of large volumes of water cascading down Moor Road and through Thornborough Gardens during the July 2019 storm, causing serious flooding in the centre of Leyburn. The proposed storage capacity would be inadequate to cope with future extreme weather events. At the Leyburn Town Council meeting in November 2019, Matthew Gath, of Yorvik Homes, when asked where the excess water would go, he replied: “ Down to Bellerby”.
In summary this is an ill-conceived scheme that threatens to change the character of Leyburn, while exacerbating road safety dangers for existing residents, overstretching local services and increasing the likelihood of further damaging flooding in the town.
I would urge the Town Council to strongly oppose the application In its submission to Richmondshire District Council’s planning committee.