BABTAG Update

Rising house numbers on the new estates of Thorpebury but slow progress in managing the increasing road traffic.
The number of houses now occupied is now around 60 with another dozen sold but the developers are not doing so well on roads.
Traffic mitigation measures in Barkby and Barkby Thorpe.
The design of lighting for the traffic measures has still not been addressed by the County Council so once again no chance of work commencing to ease the villages’ traffic chaos. At this week’s liaison meeting with the developers, CEG, BABTAG expressed its deep disappointment over the failure to implement measures promised to coincide back in the New Year with the occupation of the first houses of Thorpebury. If there continues to be no response from Highways, our County Councillor, Brenda Seaton, has said she will intervene.
Disappointing result of the independent Road Safety Audit on Barkbythorpe Road.
Two bollards will soon be flanking the pinch in order to deter HGVs from driving over it. More white paint on the road and additional signage will be constructed at the priority chicane at the southern end of Barkbythorpe Road but the RSA did not recognize it or the pinch as hazardous to drivers.
Accesses on Hamilton Lane.
The additional two accesses to the site from Hamilton Lane will mean a change in priority on the lane with traffic travelling south from Barkby Thorpe having to cede priority at the sharp bend at the bottom of the hill to traffic emerging from Thorpebury. The accesses are expected to be opened early next year.
Southern Access Road.
Savills is close to coming up with a price on behalf of the City for the land needed for the new road. There will then be a negotiation with CEG hopefully leading to a settlement acceptable to both sides. In the meantime all new residents must continue to use the already busy Barkbythorpe Road to access their homes.
More on Thorpebury
Davidsons’s Sign. The intrusive double sided Davidsons’s sign on Barkbythorpe Lane close to the Duckpond has been taken down as it had not received planning permission. Maggie Shutt of the Duckpond residents should take due credit for her persistence with Charnwood enforcement officers.
Community Facilities in Thorpebury.
A temporary building for community use has been ordered and will be placed in the car park overlooking the cricket pitch. CEG has received two enquiries concerning the use/lease of the cricket ground, one of them from Barkby United Cricket Club. One retailer has shown interest in taking space at the small local centre close to the school site on the phase one development.
Information all in one place about Thorpebury.
To date it has not been easy to access information that gives a resume of how Thorpebury will grow over the coming decade covering trigger points for new roads, schools, clinics as well as the sites and dates for the roll-out of houses. CEG has responded by giving a good deal more detail on the Thorpebury website www.thorpebury.co.uk. CEG has also produced posters for display on the village notice-boards.
Beyond the 4500 houses.
Dubious Developer Activity. It now looks unlikely that the Inspectors will deliver their verdict on the Charnwood Local Plan to the Council until the autumn but developers are clearly not waiting and they are getting their planning applications in whilst the local authority lacks a five year housing supply. BABTAG understands that an application is currently being processed for the northern half of the HA7 site off Barkby Road to the west of the railway bridge and that one is expected for the 960 houses to the south of Syston (HA1).
Jelsons, despite not having submitted a planning application have been doing clearance work and have put hardcore down on the former Woodgate Nurseries site (HA8) next to the big houses on Barkby Lane. BABTAG, the parish council and local residents have complained to Charnwood Council that this work is at best premature and at worst illegal. The matter is now in the hands of the Council’s enforcement team but staff shortages suggest it will be some time before the situation is addressed and any action taken.
From agriculture to dog-walking.
BABTAG has noted a planning application from local farmer, Tom Pick, for a change of use of his field to the south of Manor Farm and to the west of Barkbythorpe Road. If granted it will become a dog-walking park surrounded by a six foot high dog-proof fence and with a car park just south of the current farm buildings. It is not clear whether urban encroachment has led to this move but another field will be lost to agriculture.
Owen Bentley
Chairman BABTAG