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Advice to Mr and Mrs Sheppard

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Enquiry

From
Mr and Mrs Sheppard
Date advice given
13 June 2014
Enquiry type
Post

Re A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme

As residents of Hilton, we wish to write to you in the strongest terms about the proposals for the Al4.

We have been to various consultatons of the years about the proposals but the current scheme is closer to Hilton than other proposals we have seen. The current route is less than 1km from the village in some parts, and the resulting impact on the village in terms of noise and general pollution will be excessive. Even with the A14 in its current position, the noise and air pollution is considerable.

Living as we do on the Graveley side of the village, the fact that thre is to be a rasied carriageway is also a cause for concern. From discussions at the various roadshows, we understand that the new carrigeway will be 2-3m above existing ground level. The increased noise will clearly therefore be worse and will travel further, not to mention the issue of light pollution. We further believe that there are to be bridges to cross the new road which will be up to 9 metres above ground level. This will completely despoil the area as a whole, with the visual impact.

As if the impact of this were not sufficient, the B1040 is to be straightened , thus increasing traffic speed and noise through the village. The traffic at the moment travels far in excess of 30mph and the traffic calming measures do very little to alleviate this in their current form. Traffic through Hilton will also inevitably increase, as the shortest route between the Godmanchester junction of the Scheme and the St Ives area will be through our village, not to mention the issue of"rat-running" through the village.

We have been informed that there are to be local gravel extraction pits in or very near to the village in order to extract large amounts of gravel and the impact of these both visually and in terms of noise and dust will harm the environment. We should point out however, that of most concern is the fact that there seems to be a lack of precise and detailed information regarding the scheme which makes it hard to make any proper assessment of the impact on our lives and to make any detailed response/suggestions for compromise.

We had mentioned during the roadshows several years ago that the scheme should include plans to build the carriageway at the minimum height possible. The existing road is not elevated so we do not understand why the current scheme requires the carriageway to be so high. Our objections even to the current route, might be less if the road were lower as this would greatly reduce noise and light and would make our own personal attempts at screening far easier.

We hope to see plans at the earliest opportunity regarding the proposed banking and planting schemes, sound barriers, proposals re road surfaces and reassurance that any gravel pits will cease to be used when the road has been completed and that no construction traffic will be permitted through the village. Please also confirm that mitigation measures will be included in the design specification for the Scheme and that they are included in the tender process and become a fixed part of the Scheme.

We await hearing from you

Advice given

Thank you for your letter addressed to Sir Michael Pitt regarding the proposed Cambridge to Huntingdon A14 improvement scheme. It has been passed to me, as the case manager, to respond. This proposal is currently at the pre-application stage. As you are aware, the Highways Agency is currently consulting with local communities and prescribed consultees on their proposal in accordance with the duties which the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) places upon them. I am unsure as to whether you have responded directly to the Highways Agency with your comments, as the Highways Agency will be under a duty to take account of relevant responses. The closing date for this consultation period is 15 June 2014. It is at the developer?s discretion whether to accept any representations after that date. As your letter raises concerns with the consultation being carried out you may also wish to send a copy of your correspondence to the relevant local authority for this area. When the application is submitted to The Planning Inspectorate, local authority consultees will be invited to provide their comments on the adequacy of the developer?s consultation detailing whether the developer complied with their consultation duties in accordance with the Planning Act 2008. Following the submission of the application, a decision will be made within 28 days as to whether the application can be accepted for examination. In deciding whether or not to accept an application the Planning Inspectorate must, amongst other matters, have regard to any adequacy of consultation representation received by it from a local authority consultee. If the developer is deemed to have adequately carried out their pre-application duties and the application is accepted for examination, there will be the opportunity to register your views with The Planning Inspectorate and participate in the examination by completing a relevant representation form. Details about how and when to register will be publicised by the developer. Please note that you are unable to register as an interested party during the current (pre-application) stage of the process for this proposal. Further information about how to participate in the application process can be found in our advice notes. I have enclosed two advice notes which may be of particular interest. If you have any further queries, please don?t hesitate to contact us.