Residents and developer clash over transport impact
An expert has argued that 300 new homes would have a sever impact on traffic in Hayling Island with the developers questioning his credentials.
There was tense and forthright exchanges between Professor Jonathan Raper, acting as an expert for HIRA on transport, and Ms Murphy KC on behalf of Gladman Developments Ltd on Tuesday, June 23 as the planning inquiry continued. The inquiry is deciding the fate of the plans at Rooks Farm on St Mary’s Road with housing, green spaces, play areas and new roads part of the proposals.
From the opening statements in the morning Ms Murphy questioned his suitability to be objective and said he had an “inherent conflict of interest” and did not have the “relevant professional memberships”. That was refuted by Professor Raper, CEO of TransportAPI, who has lived on Hayling Island for six years.
He raised a number of concerns over the plans proposed for the 300 new homes. He said: “We are concerned at HIRA that development on the island is sustainable in the sense that we don’t want every additional development to reduce access to the island for everyone that is already here as well as the new residents. It needs to be sustainable and the traffic flows can be accommodated, that is the origin of our concern in bringing forward our objection.”
While the appellant stated that residents would have a genuine choice of facilities on foot that was contested by Professor Raper.
He said: “Hayling Island only has the lowest tier of retail facilities which are essentially corner shops and chemists with all high level retail stores off the Island. There is no education facilities for over 16s, in-branch banking, or hospital care.”
Professor Raper also stated that the most practical way to access off-island facilities is via car which confounds the traffic issues. The A3023 was said to also add to the issues with most of the traffic having to pass through a stretch of road from Stoke to the southern side of the bridge.
Professor Raper said: “If there is either roadworks or an accident that clogs up the sensitive corridor with traffic backing up on the limited number of roads and quite quickly no one can go anywhere as there are limited number of routes.
“That sensitive stretch of road is the focus of whether or not there is safe and sustainable access to the island. It also has the lowest stretch of sea defence walls according to Environment Agency data and has flooded in the past.”
Professors Raper also raised concerns with the appellants transport assessment believing that there were 28 assumptions that undermined its conclusion that there would be no significant impact to traffic with the addition of 300 new homes.
He said “the island is already severely congested” and any addition will impact it.
In response Ms Murphy pressed Professor Raper on the his claim that the models were steered to give them the answer they wanted in which he stated “I am not alleging any misconduct”. The appellant went on to confirm that the models were accepted by the relevant authorities including National Highways.
Further concerns were raised by Professor Raper over the cycling routes in and out of Hayling Island with the Billy Trail unlit and suffering from coastal erosion in parts. While highlighting a report from May 2024 which states the Langstone Bridge needs urgent intervention before a higher concentration of traffic should be permitted to go over it.
The appellant further questioned the assertions that there were no alternatives other than driving off the island, pointing to the two bus services and lift share service.
Local residents in attendance made their frustration known at times with the inspectorate having to interrupt twice to ask the attendees to refrain laughing, clapping or speaking during the evidence process,
The inquiry continues tomorrow with the appellant providing its transport evidence.