BABTAG – Thorpebury Phase 1 Site
Thorpebury Phase 1 Site
Notice has been given to expect hold-ups on Barkbythorpe Road for much of 2022 as work on providing utilities moving the pinch and constructing the two entrances to phase 1 is carried out.
The latest timetable for the completion of the first houses has slipped again and is now predicted in the month of August.
The developers’ new website which will inform the public about all aspects of Thorpebury which was promised in September has yet to appear but is said to be imminent.
Street Names in Thorpebury
One of the builders, Davidsons, of Phase 1 has submitted names for the first 10 streets of Thorpebury. Seeing that none of the names has any local reference BABTAG has joined forces with the parish council and the local history group to come up with more than 90 names that have some relevance to the area ranging from field names such as Lompard Green, Plum Pudding Meadow and Gadfly Lane to the names of prominent local people like the self-taught artist Horace Green and William Marshall the Barkby blacksmith’s son who rose to be chaplain to King Charles 2nd.
Archaeology
BABTAG was invited to view the archaeological work on the Phase 1 site on 25th November. Evidence of Roman period agriculture and of a number of dwellings had been revealed and many fragments of pottery from Roman and early medieval time. Whilst of interest nothing had been discovered that would lead to delays in the housing development. Work was due to finish at Christmas.
Traffic Mitigation Measures for Barkby and Barkby Thorpe
BABTAG has welcomed the traffic mitigation plans agreed between the developers and County Highways but believes that they do not go far enough and has now written to the Highways authority specifying additional measures that are required to offset the impact of the traffic that Thorpebury will generate. These are listed below.
1. Lowering the speed limit on Thorpe Lane
This vital busy road that connects Barkby to Barkby Thorpe has seen many car accidents over the years but has the national speed limit of 60mph. This has not been lowered despite the making of an entrance to the cricket club half way along the Lane and the fact that children from the local primary school use the cricket field which is adjacent to the road for recreational activities. The limit at either end of the Lane is currently 30mph and so it seems sensible, in the context of the package of mitigation measures, to extend that limit to Thorpe Lane, or at the very least put a 40 or 50mph limit on it.
2. A 20 mph limit on King Street Barkby Thorpe
There is no public footpath along the length of King St but there is already heavy traffic and a tricky ingress and egress for shoppers and horse-riders from a successful farm shop and livery business. The Thorpebury development will add to the traffic flow and the danger to pedestrians and horse-riders.
The section 106 agreement specifies the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in Barkby Thorpe and it is surely needed on King Street. As it is a section 106 requirement why is it not in the package of mitigation measures at the very least for stage 2 of implementation?
3. An alignment of new kerbing to help pedestrians on King Street
The proposed reduction in road width by kerbing on the section of King Street fronted by Thorpe Farm and its farm cottage terrace opposite is welcome but aligning one side of the kerbing close to the Thorpe Farm wall would give a little more space for pedestrians on the cottage terrace side opposite.
4. Need for a comprehensive map of the measures in the forthcoming consultation
BABTAG and the parish council understand that there will be a public consultation on the proposed mitigation measures later this year. The exact location of zebra crossings, speed bumps and new street furniture will be of huge interest as well as speed limits. For this reason we request a comprehensive exhibition in the village hall possibly employing digital technology to show how the measures will look as much as to reveal their purpose.
A response from County highways is awaited.
Duckpond Triangle
BABTAG has written again to County highways asking for a speedy resubmission of proposals for the Duckpond triangle following the rejection of an earlier proposal by local residents. The Highways response was disappointing in that it insisted on linking any new measures to the Thorpebury development in the area which is still many years away whilst the traffic issue is now and immediate.
Taylor Wimpey jumping the gun on the Charnwood Local Plan
The Charnwood Local Plan with its threat of a further 1500 houses within a couple of fields to the north-east of Barkby was finally approved and sent in late December for examination by a government Inspector who will at some stage in 2022 hold an Examination in Public before giving his verdict to the Borough Council. The Plan includes land east of the Queniborough Road and north of Barkby Road (close to the traffic lights by Syston Grange farm) where Taylor Wimpey has long aimed to build 195 houses. In the recent past Charnwood Council has rejected their attempts to get permission to build but now a new planning application has been made even before we know if the Local Plan will gain the approval of the government inspector. BABTAG will oppose this application on the grounds that it will reduce the area of separation between Barkby, Syston and Queniborough and will add to existing traffic congestion through the villages.