Local Plan Review: Preferred Approach 2016-2035

The Chichester Local Plan Review has much to recommend it, and it is obviously the result of a lot of careful work by the Planning Officers. But I should like to comment on two aspects.

(A) The future relationship between the proposed Local Plan and Local Traffic Flows. This needs to be clarified in order to make sure Chichester fit for sustainable living and possible climate change by 2030, in line with the recommendations by the International Committee on Climate Change. Local traffic is the main air pollutant for Chichester. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that Chichester produces more pollution per had than Hastings and Worthing together. This needs to be substantially reduced by establishing an integrated and sustainable plan for future traffic flows. I submit there must be a much sharper distinction between through traffic and local traffic, notably along the A27 and the A 286. Rather than simply introducing traffic light controls along the A27 (which is a start) I suggest that there should be individual permits for residents cars (and delivery traffic). This could be augmented by a 'park and deliver' system adjacent to the A 27 as part of the Southern Gateway plan, where long distance deliveries could be transferred to local electrically-powered delivery vehicles.
(B) There are two fields lying to the south of the Brandy Hole Copse Local Nature Reserve abutting onto the north side of the B2178. They have currently been included in Phase 1 of the policy for the land West of Chichester (Policy AL1), and designated as an open space as part of a putative country park. There is also a plan in the current development plan for a strategic wildlife corridor linking Chichester Harbour to the South Downs National Park. I consider that the two fields which lie to the south of Brandy Hole Copse should be integrated along with Brandy Hole Copse into the proposed wildlife corridor. They could, for example become wildlife meadows, accompanied by a strategic policy of tree planting, which would not prevent them from becoming a key aspect of the putative country park, where children could play and rediscover nature.. PERHAPS THE TWO PARTS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COULD LIAISE ON THIS BEFORE THE PHASE ONE PROPOSALS FOR AN S.106 AGREEMNT FOR THESE TWO FIELDS ARE SIGNED OFF WITH THE DEVELOPERS.

The Chichester Local Plan Review has much to recommend it, and it is obviously the result of a lot of careful work by the Planning Officers. But I should like to comment on two aspects.

(A) The future relationship between the proposed Local Plan and Local Traffic Flows. This needs to be clarified in order to make sure Chichester fit for sustainable living and possible climate change by 2030, in line with the recommendations by the International Committee on Climate Change. Local traffic is the main air pollutant for Chichester. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that Chichester produces more pollution per had than Hastings and Worthing together. This needs to be substantially reduced by establishing an integrated and sustainable plan for future traffic flows. I submit there must be a much sharper distinction between through traffic and local traffic, notably along the A27 and the A 286. Rather than simply introducing traffic light controls along the A27 (which is a start) I suggest that there should be individual permits for residents cars (and delivery traffic). This could be augmented by a 'park and deliver' system adjacent to the A 27 as part of the Southern Gateway plan, where long distance deliveries could be transferred to local electrically-powered delivery vehicles.
(B) There are two fields lying to the south of the Brandy Hole Copse Local Nature Reserve abutting onto the north side of the B2178. They have currently been included in Phase 1 of the policy for the land West of Chichester (Policy AL1), and designated as an open space as part of a putative country park. There is also a plan in the current development plan for a strategic wildlife corridor linking Chichester Harbour to the South Downs National Park. I consider that the two fields which lie to the south of Brandy Hole Copse should be integrated along with Brandy Hole Copse into the proposed wildlife corridor. They could, for example become wildlife meadows, accompanied by a strategic policy of tree planting, which would not prevent them from becoming a key aspect of the putative country park, where children could play and rediscover nature.. PERHAPS THE TWO PARTS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COULD LIAISE ON THIS BEFORE THE PHASE ONE PROPOSALS FOR AN S.106 AGREEMNT FOR THESE TWO FIELDS ARE SIGNED OFF WITH THE DEVELOPERS.