The Society has submitted the following comments on the planning application to build a sports hall and other facilities at Great Marlow School.
Planning Application10/07265//REM for the Approval of Reserved Matters Pursuant to Outline Planning Permission 07/ 06085/OUT for a New Sports Hall and All Weather Pitch along with Perimeter Fencing and Floodlighting together with Improvements to the Existing Infrastructure including the provision of an Access to serve a new Coach Park, Visitors’ Parking and revised Car Park Circulation at Great Marlow School, Bobmore Lane, Marlow.
The Marlow Society has considered the above application and has strong concerns about the proliferation of vehicular traffic and pedestrian footfall on the Wycombe Road in Marlow which will result from these proposals.
Outline permission has been granted for the erection of a mixed use development which includes residential development, a new sports hall and other sports facilities and the development of infrastructure including a new access onto the Wycombe Road for the proposed coach park. The outline permission and this application propose access and egress for both the residential development and the school facilities onto the Wycombe Road which is a busy route from Marlow to Marlow Bottom, High Wycombe, the A40 and the M40.
It is therefore of considerable concern to the Society that two large road junctions are proposed in very near proximity to each other and to other existing junctions on this thoroughfare. It seems clear that further consideration should be given to the location of these access ways and the improvement of the infrastructure along the Wycombe Road in the interests of road safety to both pedestrians and vehicles.
Access for Residential Development
It is our understanding that the final configuration and position of the road access onto the Wycombe Road from the residential development depends on the final layout of the residential development which is not yet determined. It is the Society’s view that the position indicated on the outline application for this site is far too close to the entrance into the youth centre and the new coach access now proposed. The conjunction of these three access ways, we suggest, brings unacceptable hazards along this road, particularly as these exits will be heavily used by pedestrians, cars, and heavy vehicles and will add significant pedestrian usage to the southern footway of the Wycombe Road which already has a heavy footfall, particularly by children.
Coach Park Access
Quite apart from the re-siting of these access junctions it is the Society’s view that, such would be the overloading of the Wycombe Road that effective traffic calming measures would be essential to slow down speeding traffic which is common on this road so that road accidents are minimised. To this end extensive improvement should be made to the circle at the junction with Wiltshire Road and at the junction with the A4155 (adjacent to the Plough public house). Other suitable speeding deterrents should also be used, although the Society would not support chicanes or speed humps. These provisions should be funded by Developer Contribution and secured by Section 106 Agreement.
The Society is aware of the concerns of local residents who live in property immediately adjoining these new proposed junctions and in the immediate surrounding area and understands their concerns. We would request that both the County and District Councils have serious regard and give close attention to their views when determining this application to permit reserved matters
Yours sincerely,
Ron Waters,
Chairman.
