ePetition details
Prevent access to Highwood Estate off of Hills Farm Lane
The provision of Vehicular access onto Hills Farm Lane or surrounding roads will encourage the use of motorised vehicles for short journeys which is directly contradicted by HDC sustainable Travel statement.
“For short journeys choose active travel, like walking or
cycling. It will not only save money, but help you get fitter.
Research shows that regular cycling increases life expectancy by
two years. And the environmental benefits of cycling are great too.
Bicycles are true zero-carbon vehicles and the average four-mile
commute should be easily achievable for most people - and would
take less than half an hour. Doing this alone would cut the average
individual's carbon emissions by as much as 7%.”
Furthermore the reinstatement of access will create a thoroughfare
on non trunk roads to access facilities that are not on Hills Farm.
This in turn will further increase traffic at peak times with
motorists utilising the roads to avoid congestion when travelling
on the A24.
The residents of Hills Farm Lane are grateful the temporary access to Highwood off of Hills Farm Lane is now closed, there has been a dramatic reduction in traffic and we would further like reassurances from HDC that the bridge will not be reinstated or further access points constructed onto Hills Farm Lane and surrounding roads.
Started by: Rebecca Garrard
This ePetition ran from 17/12/2017 to 28/01/2018 and has now finished.
239 people signed this ePetition.
Council response
It is acknowledged that the new bridge across Boldings Brook has
been used as the primary access for residents to the early stages
of the Highwood development whilst the main site entrance via the
new junction on the A24 to the west of the site was completed. As
the main site access has now been fully completed and opened, the
bridge across Boldings Brook has been closed to vehicular traffic
with the exception of emergency vehicles.
The West of Horsham strategic site (which includes east and west of
the A24) was allocated for development in Horsham’s Local
Plan in 2007 and detailed design guidance relating to how the site
would need to come forward, including a masterplan and
Supplementary Planning Document, was published in 2008. The
subsequent planning applications needed to demonstrate compliance
with these documents. The documents can be found through the
following links:
https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planningpolicy/planning-policy/detailed-planning-guidance
https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planningpolicy/planning-policy/detailed-planning-guidance/supplementary-planning-guidance
It has always been a requirement of the Highwood development that
all vehicular access be via the new A24 junction only, with
exception permitted only for the very early stages of the
development whilst the highway infrastructure on the A24 was
completed. The restriction on access across the bridge was set out
in the site masterplan and secured within the legal agreement for
the development under the outline planning permission DC/09/2138,
with the option to trigger the restriction confirmed at detailed
design stage under reserved matters permission DC/10/0006, where a
condition was imposed requiring the downgrading.
The sustainability of the site was a key consideration in
allocating the wider site for development and assessing the outline
and reserved matters application. The focus for integrating the
site with the wider Horsham area has been through sustainable modes
of transport with the creation of new links through the river
corridor linking to Hills Farm Lane, the new bridge over the A24
and the creation of bus links, which will come forward as the
development progresses.
The closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic has consistently
been supported by Horsham District Council, West Sussex County
Council as the Highway Authority, Denne Neighbourhood Council and
by the developer in order to avoid traffic movements through the
site and onto Hill Farm Lane. I am of the view such movements would
both significantly increase traffic volumes along Hills Farm Lane
and at the Guildford Road junction and harm the amenities of
residents on both sides of the bridge. It should be noted that the
transport modelling considered as part of the site allocation was
focused on the main access being from the A24.
In light of the above I am able to confirm that the downgrading of
the bridge is secured through a legal agreement and conditions
imposed on the development. I am of the view this is a robust
position that has been secured and there is no intention to change
this position. Such a change in any event would require amendments
to the planning permission granted