Representation by Donovan Harrison
- Date submitted
- 2 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I would like to record my opposition for the proposed development of the Rampion 2 Sub-Station at Oakendene for a number of reasons; - the local impact on traffic management created by the need to access the site by large vehicles during the development of the site. I assume this will require the need for temporary traffic lights as required by Health & Safety. This on a road, the A272, that already has daily traffic congestion. This will lead to single track local country lanes (for example Spronkets Lane, Picts Lane, Kent Street) most probably being used as ‘rat-runs’ to avoid delays. None of these single track lanes are suitable as recently experienced following an accident on the A272 which had to be closed for close to 24hrs when traffic was diverted down Kent Street and Picts Lane. This flow of A-Road two-way traffic down single track country lanes led to road damage, verge damage, irate motorists fighting to pass each other and making it dangerous for regular users like cyclists, professional dog-walkers, horse riders (a number of whom are not even teenagers), walkers and, not least, the safety of residents. - Cowfold has been in need of a by-pass for years. Instead of trying to improve traffic flows through the village the proposal will compound the problems for residents and businesses alike for the substantial period of the development of the site. - the A272 already experiences a high number of accidents and incidents between Bolney and Cowfold and the proposals do not appear to take these already existing traffic problems into account. Congestion could also create problems for access by any emergency services. - pollution monitors have been deployed to the centre of Cowfold in the past, which suggests some official concerns about this matter already. The proposals will create even greater pollution with site traffic increases and the worsening effect of queuing traffic. - Kent Street has been proposed as an access route along with it being part of a cable route to connect Oakendene with the Bolney Sub-Station. This is a single-track country lane with soft verges wholly unsuitable for large vehicles. Its access onto the A272 does not have good visibility and is along a stretch which has a 60mph speed limit and is suitable for driving at that speed. - I understand that the residents of Cowfold have not been given the appropriate opportunities to respond to the proposals so, without this proper engagement, further consultations will have to be made. - there are better proposals, like the site immediately north of the Bolney Substation. Wineham Lane is a two-way road and away from the A272 and local villages. This site would not necessitate a long connection to the distribution point at the substation and avoids any connection cables crossing any roads. Bolney is already a Substation so why litter the countryside with other and separate sites, and yet within a small area. As the traffic management would be far easier and less impactful to the local area it helps alleviate a lot of my criticisms written above. - the recent impact statement provided by Rampion rather understates the visual impact along the proposed routes and site development along with the impact to the environment (noise and light pollution), habitat and local fauna and flora.