Hoo Development Framework
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Results for Mr H Nigel Pickering search
New searchSect 3.2 - How many twin centred villages survive longterm - sustainability?? Sect 4.1 - Improved road network = Fail. New public transport ?? Only happening now in relation to Amazon area. 4.2 Much wooly and meaningless language; college stage student dwellings require as well as "all stages of life". Next para re transport is meaningless. Penultimate para - NO twin hubs fail. This is a fundamental flaw to the whole plan. 4.3 There is NO green linkage except at the riverside. Green corridors crossed by dual c'way roads without green bridges do not function- simples. There will be RTAs with wildlife. 4.3 (P13 some unkeyed colours on map) AND how can HooEast hub centre also be "Community Parkland" get real this is a nonsense. 4.4 Well connected settlements have alternative routes in and out; when Pen' Way is blocked what then for emergency services/nat infrastructure and residents cut off. Cooling/Higham and Upon are not alternative routes. 4.4 (P15) There will be almost no green space between Chattenden, the railway and the shoreline; that is not "well connected settlements" that is one agglomeration with almost no infrastructure improvements. 4.5 Prin 3 Will these infrastructure improvements happen first? - unlikely in post local gov reorganisation experience. 4.6 Print 4 and 5 Yes, this is possible but the green corridors re-shown on this map have zero chance of success crossing the main road which is busy almost 24/7. P21 - map It is more than 1500 m from the E Hoo hub (not furthest extremity) to the proposed Healthy Living / Medical centre opposite the Church.
1 Landscape led - FAIL majorly. River and ridge are the key dominants - = trees and shoreline; neither visible for most residents. 2 Connections - FAIL. 1 Unimproved road in and off peninsular will not serve and if blocked = chaos. The Authority has failed to sort 4 Elms roundabout in many years and a minority improved relief road for 4 Elms Hill does not solve the problem for the majority. 3 IF more provision is not made for lorries in the enlarged "Kingsnorth employment area" [read industrial estate] then the area will continue to be blighted by parked lorries - this problem has NOT gone away and will be exacerbated in future unless major changes enforced in the proposals submitted so far. 4 Attractive neighbourhoods - all "eyewash" unless economically sustainable and twin hubs do not work in practice. One of the two will wither and die and become a vandals paradise. Where in western europe is there such a place working successfully of similar size??
The first failure is the fundamental principle of twin hubs for Hoo. The second is failure of the green corridors when transected by a busy dual carriageway. The third is the lack of alternative routes in emergency times if Peninsula Way is for any reason blocked, especially at the western end. The authority does not have a good track record in the provision of infrastructure/enforcement of planning conditions or negotiations with developers over community benefits/contributions. They would prefer to take the rates from an area without providing democratic equity of representation or infrastructure improvements. That is why there is a movement for the secession of the Hoo peninsular to Kent CC.
I refer to the failure of "twin hubs" for one village/small town. Where in the whole of western Europe is there such a place? One will thrive and one will die.
There is much fancy verbiage in what should be a very practical document much of which means nothing; eg Paper pamphlet P11, column 2 Para 3 transport. Read it and if says anything except [we will encourage.........NOT we will provide (anything other than signage!)]. The rest is pure optimistic, at best, verbiage and wishful thinking. I am emphatically not against any and every development; I am in favour of expanding the Kingsnorth industrial estate BUT it needs infrastructure provision at the start, adequate enforcement of parking provision for cars and lorries and improved access via 4 Elms or an alternative route. The new schools, medical practice facilities and leisure opportunities should come before the development - expensive in advance - yes, BUT necessary. It starts with water and cabling for electricity and broadband.
