Hoo Development Framework

The format of this questionnaire is not fit for purpose

Strongly disagree

The format of this questionnaire is not fit for purpose

The format of this questionnaire is not fit for purpose

The document is a sales document with lots of high-level suggestions but little in the way of actual firm commitments and facts. It’s a case of never mind the quality feel the width The document rightly points out that the money available for HIF at £170M can only be used for transport and environmental projects. The budget was calculated when inflation was at 2-3% rather than the +9% that we are faced with now. Similarly, the cost of borrowing that we currently face was not part of the budget calculation. The council has indicated that a shortfall in funds for HIF will be covered by investments from developers etc. The plan would have HIF implemented by spring 2025, which is well before the developers see a return on their investments. The whole funding of HIF needs to be clarified on an urgent basis with contingencies publicised on what parts of HIF, and therefore the whole Hoo Development program, would be cut in the event that the financial requirements cannot be met. The document mentions that the plan is to build up to 10,000 homes in the next 30 years and acknowledges that there needs to be improvements on transport infrastructure as well health services, schools and leisure facilities. But it does not indicate when these improvements will/should take place. Any organisation undertaking such a major project must be able to advise it’s customers, in this case existing and future residents, commercial operations and developers, the key milestones that the project will hit and, as this will use public money, the associated costs. The document indicates that several new schools will be built to support the 10,000 new dwellings. This needs to be firmed up as the new schools will need to be in place before the construction of all the housing is completed. There needs to be a commitment that the new secondary school will be completed when the construction is underway for say the first 2000 houses. Similar commitments for the proposed primary schools are also required. The improvement in health care services needs to commence immediately. The COVID epidemic showed that the existing healthcare services providers on the Hoo peninsula were unable to provide facilities for Covid vaccinations. People had to travel to the Medway Towns for vaccinations. I personally had to drive my 86-year old aunt from Allhallows to Wainscott to get her vaccination. A detailed plan to improve the healthcare system on the peninsula needs to be put in place and at least partially executed before any significant expansion of the population takes place. Figure 2.29 Flood risk zones diagram is not showing any flood risk at Fenn where the Fenn Bell pub has been flooded at least twice in recent years. The diagram also does not highlight the location of the wells from which BP used to draw water for it’s steam and power generating plant. Do these not represent a flood risk? Previous versions of the HIF plan had a loop from the new station at Sharnall Street to the Medway Towns in addition to the connection to Gravesend. The Medway Towns loop has now been removed with a basic service running to Gravesend. Passengers wishing to travel to London will either have to buy an expensive ticket to use the high-speed connection from Ebbsfleet to Stratford or St Pancras or endure the extremely slow Thames Link service into London. The loop would have enabled passengers to commute for work in the Medway Towns and Maidstone or use a fast train service on South Eastern to several London terminus stations. I believe that the proposed station will be in danger of becoming a white elephant. Projected passenger analysis must have been carried out but does this show that the new station is viable with the current population? If not, how many new houses would need to be built to make it a profitable undertaking? This is the type of information that should be shared with residents in the framework document. You mention that Medway “is very well connected by road with the M2, and by rail with the high-speed connection between London St Pancras and Ashford International”. To make use of the high-speed connection to Ashford International, passengers would have to change trains at least twice but there again neither Ashford or Ebbsfleet can be regarded as “International” stations as Eurostar services no longer stop at these stations. Section 2.15 Constraints fails to mention that the Four Elms Hill relief road will use, in part, a road currently owned and used by the Ministry of Defence. No information had been forthcoming from HIF that agreement has been reached for full unfettered access and therefore this must remain as a constraint. The Constraints section mentions that “There are significant issues with traffic and air quality in a number of areas, particularly around Four Elms Roundabout which is the primary access point to and from the Peninsula. If unmitigated additional homes will put further pressure on the existing road capacity.” If the relief road is implemented, it will inevitably lead to HGV’s passing along the proposed new roads and housing areas in Chattenden and towards Deangate Ridge. HGV’s cannot be prevented from using this road as it is supposed to ease the number of vehicles and associated pollution on Four Elms Hill and roundabout. The proposed shared user bridge across Peninsula Way was part of earlier proposals but at the HIF consultation that took part in the beginning of January this had been taken out. It is unclear if HIF now includes the shared user bridge or even if this is part of the HIF scope. Without the bridge the A228 would remain as a barrier to pedestrian and cyclists moving between Hoo and Deangate Ridge and I would consider the retention of it in the plan should be treated as a high priority. The document mentions the following: “Additionally, the retention of a strategic gap between Chattenden and Strood will maintain the rural character of the peninsula, strengthening and defining the natural buffer between urban and rural Medway”. Does this mean the Hogmarsh Valley and the land to the east of Wulfere Way to Upnor will not be used for development? You mention sustainable energy sources – “district heating networks” but cannot see where these are to be located and what would be the source of the required energy. This should be part of the consultation document. I recognise that the scope of the document Is focussed on Hoo, High Halstow and Chattenden, but how about the other villages that outside of these namely, Allhallows, Grain, Stoke (Upper, Middle & Lower) and St. Mary’s? The impact on the residents of these villages and the employment centres located in/around them needs to be detailed as the only transport routes from these locations is via Peninsular Way or the proposed rail connection.