Sir – The Conservative Government promises to protect our Green Belt yet the Vale are proposing 1,000 new houses to the north of Abingdon and the county are proposing to relocate the Redbridge park-and-ride to Lodge Hill, Abingdon, both in the Green Belt.
The county’s proposal for the Lodge Hill park-and-ride is for 1,600 cars plus a huge freight park for 100 HGVs with appropriate facilities, an enormous intrusion! Lodge Hill is on raised ground and prominent from Abingdon and the Vale. Any development will be very intrusive in terms of traffic, noise, light and air pollution. It is also in the Green Belt.
Although Government policy does allow local transport infrastructure in the Green Belt, it is only allowed providing the openness of the Green Belt is preserved and it does not conflict with the purposes of including land in Green Belt. This proposal will have an enormous impact on Abingdon and this site is totally unsuitable.
The county promises to consult the public on the transport plan but in the business case document there is a table listing the various stakeholders including Highways England, the Vale, local councillors and the Local Enterprise Partnership, all whose influence is rated as high, yet the influence of members of the public is only rated as low. This is a disgrace.
David Cameron and George Osborne stated in July: “We will always protect the Green Belt and make sure planning decisions are made by local people.” Is the county council listening?
Ticia Lever
Abingdon
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