Derek Deedman

Woodmancote Parish Council and several local residents, supported by local County Councillor, Derek Deedman, have objected to this application on planning and highway safety grounds. 

Bramlands Lane is an unclassified rural road, with no footways or street lighting, with a single vehicle width, damaged grass verges and subject to a derestricted speed limit. 

Traffic flows along Bramlands Lane are light given that it primarily serves a small number of dwellings/small holdings. 

It has been estimated that the maximum traffic generated by the proposal for 50 tents would be 45 trips per day based on occupancy of 30 tents with 1.5 movements each tent. This would lead to 100 vehicle movements along Bramlands Lane. 

This would be a significant number over and above the existing traffic flows on Bramlands Lane and given the single vehicle width would lead to further damage of the verges and greater risk of accidents to road users. 

Highways accept that some campers would explore the countryside by sustainable modes of travel as recommended in the proposed Green Travel Plan but this would be a small percentage of all movements. 

In the circumstances the highway authority is recommending that the planning application be refused on road safety grounds in that Bramlands Lane is insufficient in width to accommodate safely the additional vehicular movements that the proposed tented campsite would generate, resulting in an increased risk of accidents to road users.

Hopefully the District Council Planning Committee will accept this recommendation and refuse planning permission for this scheme.