Having read the Local Plan - Preferred Approach we are extremely concerned that the powers that be do not fully comprehend the geography and economic importance of the Manhood Peninsular. We therefore set out our comments below.
There is only one road (A286) linking the Witterings/Bracklesham to the A.27 which is one of the most congested roads in the area and it has proved difficult on occasions for the emergency services to reach accidents etc. It also makes travel to and from these villages, including by buses, extremely difficult. The proposed AL6 link road will not solve the problem and nor will the junction changes which will result in local journeys becoming longer and more difficult. The housing targets will also impact greatly on the road capacity. There needs to be a long term solution to the A27. Indeed, the A286 which links the Witterings/Bracklesham to Chichester is so frequently gridlocked that St Richards hospital recommends that its senior staff do not live in the area because they cannot guarantee that they will be able to reach the hospital within a necessary time limit.
The proposed provision of a commercial development site and a raised link road will be on a flood plain and is adjacent to an internationally important habitat site. This would suggest that such a site for the development would be unsuitable. The impact of a raised road on the Apuldram/Donnington area would also be substantial on the local community.
Consideration has apparently not been given to the impact of the changes at the Hunston junction. There is now a large secondary school near to the junction which has resulted in an increase in the amount traffic at the junction of as the considerable number of children have to be taken to/from school by car due to the lack of public transport particularly from the Witterings areas.
For the reasons stated above we do not think the proposed AL6 link road or the provision of a commercial development site is a sensible or economic solution.
In the Section "S2 - 4.14 Development Strategy it states "consideration has been given to other factors in determining whether a settlement is a suitable location for additional housing growth, including infrastructure capacity". However, these factors do not appear to have been fully taken into account and we would like to comment as follows.
The minimum housing target of 350 set for the Bracklesham/East Wittering area will have a significant impact on the villages and the A286 and suggests that a higher housing target could be reached. Even a maximum of 350 would excessive, in view of the increase in housing that has already taken place and is currently under construction in the area (including Birdham). There is no easy access to the rail networks, employment, secondary schools and higher education. There is no secondary school in the Witterings/Bracklesham area and there is very limited employment in the Manhood Peninsula, which means people have to commute to access employment, schooling and rail networks. One has to assume that it is most likely that each property is likely to use two cars. All traffic from these villages has to travel along the frequently congested A286. The schools are already almost at capacity as is the medical centre which already finds it necessary to divert some patients in need of medical attention to other practices outside of the villages. These village communities rely heavily on tourism for employment and their economy. If the road becomes even more congested this will inevitably lead to tourists avoiding the area, which would also have an adverse effect on the contribution the Peninsular makes to the Chichester district.
We live in Somerley in a conservation area. We have already been impacted by the increase in noise levels from traffic passing along Bell Lane/Bracklesham Lane. According to a Transport Study for the LPR by Peter Brett it forecasts that the further increase in housing will raise the level of noise to "major". We suggest that consideration should be given to reducing, not increasing, the level of noise.
In view of the above we object to East Wittering/Bracklesham being considered as a settlement hub and it should be removed.