An ambulance driver, who lives in a street which would provide access for vehicles to a proposed new housing development, says the road is so narrow it could prove critical for emergency vehicles attempting to reach patients or tackle a fire, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.
Cornwall councillors also raised safety concerns about access to seven new houses mooted for North Roskear, Camborne, when they discussed the application by Lowen Heights Ltd at a meeting of the council’s west area planning committee on Monday, July 22.
Planning officer Hannah England, who recommended approval, said vehicular access would have to go around houses in Barberry Way, which is narrow in places, though it was considered acceptable by the council’s highways officer.
The proposed development would include a row of two semi-detached pairs of houses and three terraced properties which would front Gwithian Walk, a pedestrian footway set back from Boiler Works Road by a Cornish hedge.
Prior to the meeting, various residents of Barberry Way raised objections to their road being used as an access way to the new homes. John Beall, speaking on behalf of his neighbours, said residents pay a maintenance charge for the road’s paved surface and other open spaces on the estate.
He said: “With the heavy flow of construction vehicles and machinery, there will no doubt be the potential for damage to the paved area, kerbs and residents’ fencing and buildings. Who will compensate the residents should this occur? This may affect future maintenance charge increases.
“Barberry Way is a narrow cul-de-sac and is used frequently by pedestrians, children playing and residents of the whole estate utilise it on foot as a viable access route to take their children to the local school and shops. The increase of traffic and the risk to pedestrian safety would be elevated significantly.”
Mr Beall added: “To access the proposed development will involve a sharp 90-degree, blind, right-turn bend between two 6ft high fence panels. Totally impossible for large vehicles to navigate.
“I am a qualified and experienced emergency ambulance driver – notwithstanding the difficulty of an ambulance making this turn, more importantly a fire appliance to achieve it would be near impossible, thus potentially causing a delay in a time critical incident.
“The gap between the gable end of No 9 and the fence opposite is 3.7m wide. This would leave no room for pedestrians and would also involve another sharp turn after passing the garages that have been proposed.”
A representative of Camborne Town Council said the authority recommended refusal due to its own concerns about emergency vehicles gaining access.
Perry Tosdevin, of CSA Architects which is working on behalf of the applicant, stressed there was no objection from the council’s own highways officer to the development. He told councillors there weren’t any affordable houses within the scheme.
Local member Cllr Peter Perry called the matter to committee due to concerns relating to access limitation, pedestrian safety and the impact of construction plant on the bricked road. He said he recently visited the estate when a “very large” Argos lorry was making a delivery to a house in Barberry Way and “for the 12 or so minutes he was parked there the access way was totally, and I stress totally, blocked. If there was a major incident involving a fire tender or two it would cause chaos”.
Cllr John Keeling added: “This vehicle access is worrying me.” Councillors were advised to be careful if refusing on access grounds as they would be going against the advice of their own highways officer and it could lead to an expensive appeal.
However, Cllr Loveday Jenkin added: “I’m very concerned about the highways issues as it impacts on the amenity of existing residents rather than it being feasible to get a large lorry through. I’m also concerned it’s not an affordable housing site and it seems it’s trying to squeeze as much in as possible.”
“I feel this development is too cramped and I’m not happy with the access either, especially with children playing outside and lorries going back and forth. I think it’s quite dangerous actually,” added Cllr Sally Anne Weedon.
Officers said they were “nervous” about the committee’s obvious desire to refuse the application as it ticked every policy box. The committee eventually agreed to defer to ask the applicant to remove a garage block to create more space and consider some of the points raised during discussion.
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