Letter: Brockhills Lane plans – common sense and public safety over-ridden by profit
SIR – It was with disappointment that the proposed development of a dense housing estate on what was previously the last remaining vestige of greenbelt on the north-east corner of New Milton was passed (A&T, 10th February).
Local councillors have argued against the density of housing here with good reason. Whilst the developers have paid for an impressive amount of statistical analysis, these can be manipulated to prove what you wish.
Traffic counts in November do not reflect true traffic densities. I and many local residents believe that this project will not provide affordable houses for local families and will be detrimental to the community in general.
The site puts pedestrians at high risk without safe access to crossing places on Brockhills Lane. Sway Road cannot be made safe for children, the elderly or families to cross without major changes to the road layout.
An entrance via Sway Road was rejected as being too dangerous for vehicles, so how can it be safe for pedestrians to cross?
There was a major underestimate of car journeys at the meeting as this site is too far from local amenities for people to use green forms of transportation.
There are no cycle routes into Ashley or safe routes into the national park or down to the Plough pub. Few people would walk or cycle to New Milton.
With a requirement for residents to rely on vehicular transport the roads will become congested and will result in more than 1,000 car journeys per day.
There are three exits from Brockhills lane. The route to the Ashley schools means severe congestion morning and evening. Access to New Milton and the easiest exit will be via Hollandswood Road, affecting all the current residents.
The exit via the Sway Road junction poses additional risks as coaches and heavy vehicles already struggle to enter and exit the lane.
It is sad, though not surprising, that common sense and public safety can so easily be over-ridden by profit and that New Forest District Council and highways authority Hampshire County Council can be more easily persuaded by a slick presentation by paid representatives from a company in Basingstoke than local councillors and residents with local knowledge.
What with the additional housing in Hordle and Pennington, the pressure on this area will, sadly, be severe and detrimental.
It shows that even with facts and determination and the local council behind us, we are unable to protect our local communities from harm.
Janine Redman,
New Milton
