Wednesday 2 October 2013

Parish Council objects to Natland Mill Beck Lane development

The residents of Natland Mill Beck Lane turned out in force to this week’s Parish Council meeting to express their objection to the planning application now formally lodged by Story Homes for the building of 76 homes on the plot of land bordered by Natland Road, Natland Mill Beck Lane and Helme Lodge. Nigel Mitchell spoke on behalf of Helme Lodge residents and Phil Livesey on behalf of Natland Mill Beck Lane residents.

The Parish Council objected to this land being earmarked for development of any kind back in 2009 and in 2011, as part of the consultation on the new Land Allocation Document, which is still in the process of being examined by an independent Planning Inspector and so not finalised or adopted. The grounds on which the Council has and continues to object are: considerable adverse impact on the character of the local landscape, a major step towards coalescence between urban Kendal and Natland village and considerable adverse impact on the residents of Helme Lodge.

On Monday night councillors reiterated their objection to any development on this land, but also responded to the proposal by highlighting issues including: the need for secondary emergency access to the site and a better pedestrian link to Asda, concerns about how green spaces and street furniture would be maintained in the future and requests that funding be allocated for work necessary if the canal were to be rewatered and for provision of a cycleway/footway along Natland Road and a bus shelter at the Kendal-bound bus stop on Natland Road (given increased traffic between Natland village and the development, the new houses being in the catchment area of St Mark’s School).