This is the substance of my objection to the proposals at Abbeylands.
This is yet another insensitive development inside the Dunbar Conservation Area. The site links to 3 private properties, which are listed, and the Parish Hall, part of the Priory cluster.
Inappropriate past development has meant the integrity of the areas has been undermined. I would have thought this was an opportunity to create a bit of green space in a town centre which is almost completely devoid of nature and natural features or designed landscapes. Greenspace is lacking, which the latest research has identified as a problem. But, if there is an objective demand, it is for affordable housing – which the local plan anticipates this site should be used for.
At over £2,500 per space I estimate it will cost us almost £90,000, at least. ‘Grassblock’ construction costs would be lower – closer to £1800 per space (exVAT and fees), altough maintenance costs are typically higher. Expect maintenance and related costs of £5,000 per year. Examining the plans, I expect the costs will be perhaps half that and there will be the usual disastrous zero maintenance policy.
I objected on the following grounds:
1) There is no evidence of car parking need. The most recent studies show that there is underutilisation of onstreet parking at all times of the day, with minor exceptions and similarly the main parking lots. Corroborating evidence of need has not been presented. Anyone wanting to prove this can take a tour of the car parks which I have done at different times of the day. There is always free parking available in the larger car parks, and on street turnover is very high, with the exception of a few inconsiderate business owners.
In the middle of June and the middle of the day these car parks were empty – I have walked the perimeter of Dunbar many times and the main car parks are always underutilised at all times of the day (but not empty), except perhaps on a very hot gala day:
2) Creating new car parking is at odds with ELC policies for reducing car dependancy and encouraging walking and cycling. This proposal stands to add 35 car parking places and only 3 cycle spaces. No resident parking is being created, which is the only objective need and no economic arguments presented in support.
3) The proposal application states that SUDS will be used, but the documentation provided suggests that an impermeable bitumen substrate will be used.
4) The Lighting scheme is insensitive to the location and complete overkill. The 8m modern poles are not just innappropriate (they are seriously ugly, thoughtlessly picked out of the catalogue), but likely to create light pollution all the same. This proposal will not discourage ASB, which will comprise the usual callow youth congregating at night either for skating purposes or to rev up their cars.
5) There is no assessment of the impact on new vehicles entering the otherwise quiet cul de sac. The number of journeys is going to increase from a few dozen daily to potentially hundreds, including an increase in speculative journeys.
6) The Abbeylands High Street junction is regularly used for illegal parking, for drop off and co-op/post office users. The car park will not have any impact on this, but may well make the junction unsafe.
7) There are no steps whatsoever to improve the visual appeal of the site as whole, which faces private properties and presents and interesting view to the west. There are no mitigatory measures either to soften the impact on the street.
8) There is no assessment of the impacts on safety at the Abbeylands junction, the cafe in particular (where children play) or the Parish Church.
9) There has not been a proper consultation or involvement with residents, who may have wished to influence the scheme positively.
Object (or just comment / support) here: http://pa.eastlothian.gov.uk/online-applications/submitComment.do?action=submitComment&activeTab=neighbourComments
