Representation by Higham Parish Council (Higham Parish Council)
- Date submitted
- 21 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Parish councils
As a Statutory Consultee, Higham Parish Council have agreed a SoCG with NH, submitted as part of their application and to which reference should be made for our ground of objection. As requested, we will also produce a PADS. Briefly, we disagree with the chosen route and the unnecessary loss of prime agricultural land caused by it. Government policy, for food security and other reasons is to protect prime land, not to use it for roads and public parks. If it is chosen, then the necessary improvement of roads leading to the LTC need to be upgraded before the LTC opens; the existing route from Dover and Folkestone being via the M20. The LTC is predicted to cause a dramatic increase in traffic along the A226 in the parish both during construction and once operational to the detriment of residents trying to leave the village via uncontrolled junctions, as well as those living along the road (some of whom have to reverse onto the road) and a school. The A226 is within the red line but there are no proposals to do any of the required improvement works, in order to keep it safe. The traffic model shows traffic volumes changing along the A226 at the point where there is an emergency access which we are told cannot happen. This and the predicted increases on other unrelated roads, which are mainly less than 5 metres wide, causes us to question the traffic model. The design of the junction with the A2 travelling eastbound has too few lanes and will just move existing congestion, not ameliorate it. Similarly we disagree with the removal of the existing A2/Brewers Road junction. The new road, like the A2, is being built to motorway standards and, like the A2 should have a hard shoulder. It should not rely on discredited ‘Smart Motorway’ technology. No effort is going to be made to mitigate the effect of noise dust and vibration on residents and dwellings whether arising from construction works or the predicted increase in traffic on existing roads. The Parish Council wants a proper commitment for it to be fully consulted on traffic matters during the construction phase. The Parish Council are also concerned about the impact on the environment of the proposals, particularly long (centuries not decades) established eco systems and believe that other pollutants, such a PM2.5, should be considered and not just NO2. The effect of the scheme on biodiversity is of concern to us, as is the guaranteeing of the retention of all environmental mitigation measures for the very long term