Width of Access and Footway

The Highway Authority is not highly regarded by local residents who allege that the width of the access and internal footway do not meet the required standard. However, there is no evidence before me to indicate that the Highway Authority did not visit the site or give this case its full and proper attention. Having considered the amended proposals and the appellant’s Transport Statement, the Highway Authority has no objection to the scheme.

Traffic Levels

The Transport Statement includes a survey of existing traffic conditions, accident information and a forecast of trips generated by the proposed development based on TRICS data. The Transport Statement concludes that the increase in vehicle movements generated by the proposed development would not be significant in relation to existing traffic levels. I have no doubt that Cross Road is busy but there is no technical evidence before me to show that it does not have the capacity to accommodate the proposed development.

Access on Foot

The site is opposite a row of shops which together with the other establishments in the centre of Tadworth would satisfy most day to day needs.

Parking

Residents and local shopkeepers argue that visitors would use the on street parking spaces in front of the shops. However, the representative of the Residents Association conceded at the Inquiry that the number of spaces proposed satisfies the County Council’s standards. Planning Policy Guidance Note 13, Transport (PPG13) states that developers should not be required to provide more spaces than they might wish unless there are significant implications for, for example, highway safety which cannot be resolved through the introduction of parking controls. I have established above that there are no significant implications for highway safety in this case.

Parking is limited to a 2 hour stay in front of the shops. Should visitors use these spaces I accept that the shops could suffer a loss of trade. I heard that shoppers tend to stay for no more than 10 minutes. If the use of these spaces by visitors to the proposed development became a problem, it could be resolved by the introduction of shorter waiting times. The report ‘A Better Life, Private Sheltered Housing and Independent Living for Older People’ submitted by the appellant shows that many residents of sheltered schemes shop locally.

Residents consider this report to be biased in favour of those providing sheltered housing. However, it was produced by independent consultants and there is nothing before me to show that the statistics quoted are not accurate.