Harborough Local Plan 2011-2031, Proposed Submission

Scraptoft Parish Council (SPC) has serious concerns that a new settlement of 1200 houses won't cause major traffic problems in and around Scraptoft. It has not been demonstrated that the traffic impact of the proposal can be mitigated and that the traffic won't lead to major congestion on existing residential roads surrounding the site. We are also opposed to the loss of the nature reserve which the Parish Council has supported since its designation. The Strategic Development Area (SDA) as proposed is contrary to The Scraptoft Neighbourhood Plan (SNP) which was approved two years ago. In particular policy S11 in the SNP states that new development should not harm the network of local ecological features and habitats. The development will mean the loss of the Green Wedge (GW) to the east of Hamilton Lane (the land that comprises the golf course and the field between Hall Road and Hamilton Lane). the SDA will adjoin the the houses on Hamilton Lane within the city resulting in the coalescence of Scraptoft.

We support the green wedge for Leicester/Scraptoft/ Bushby and welcome the new area of Green wedge on the upper slopes of the Thurnby Brook Valley south of Covert Lane. However, SPC objects to the loss of the Green Wedge to the north of the village.

We support a green wedge

We support a green wedge

We support a green wedge

But a school playing filed is not a suitable use because it would restrict public access. It would also change the character and give it a more urban feel.

We support a Green Wedge

East west connection across the site is essential to stop traffic entering the village

We support the concept of a wildlife corridor and part of the area to the south being designated a Local Wildlife Site. Scraptoft Parish Council is at present confused by the reference being made to the retained wildlife area being 100 metres wide, yet supporting maps do not show show this amount of land being retained. We seek clarification on this.

This is an important Green Wedge because it provides much needed habitat for wildlife in an increasingly built up area. In 2002 it was declared a nature reserve based on a report by Sue Timms in 1999. Contrary to the RPS report compiled by Melenie A'Lee after Sue Timms and Karen Headley re-visited the site in May 2017 on behalf of Leicestershire County Council, they reported that there has been no deterioration in the bio diversity of the site, they state that the site meets the current Local Wildlife Criteria for scrub-grassland habitat mosaics. The report notes that the area is used by members of the public and there is no evidence of anti-social behaviour on the site. In the time they were there they spotted Chiffchaff, Great-tit, Chaffinch, Jackdaw, Song-thrush, Starling, Wood-pigeon and Green Woodpecker and insect life plus a wide variety of trees and shrubs along with high herb rich areas of grassland especially in the south and west and northeast. They said they area would benefit from further faunal survey.

The proposed access and egress to the development along Keyham Lane West hasn't shown that it can be upgraded to accommodate this level of traffic in a safe manner due to frontage development all along this road with three schools, traffic calming and a 20 mph zone in places. There is already peak time congestion on the Tesco Island roundabout at the far end of Keyham Lane West, creating air pollution for nearby houses and schools. The use of New Romney Crescent for access and egress to the Scraptoft North development will further exacerbate this area due to there being a large primary school and residential properties buffering up to this street which will cause a danger to school children and will be unfair on the residents on the street. The use of this street would also exacerbate traffic on Scraptoft Lane and Station Lane which would be the only way of travelling to the south of the city and east along the A47. the island at the Scraptoft end of Station Lane together with the traffic lights at the bottom of Station lane in Thurnby would not be able to filter this amount of traffic with already large tail-backs at peak times.

Scraptoft village cannot cope with the amount of traffic building up now from the new developments that have are still being constructed around the village. Traffic would therefore need to be prevented from coming through the village by some means at the junction of Hamilton Lane and New Romney Crescent plus all traffic along Beeby Road would need to be directed through Scraptoft North to Hamilton Lane instead of coming through the village.