Planning Application WD/2020/1244/MAJ Land South of Copwood

A recent article in the Sussex Express quoted a member of the Planning Committee North as stating:

"Importantly, I can’t see any opposition to this application from our statutory consultees, not one, and I feel we would have very limited grounds for refusal on that basis.”

As a statutory consultee, Members of Fletching Parish Council OBJECTED to this planning application (at the roundabout on the entry to Uckfield on the A22 on the West side of the A22)and Cllr Chris Rothery (Chair) spoke at the Wealden District Council Planning Meeting North against it.

Despite representations from Fletching and other parish councils, the application was approved.

Comments agreed by Fletching Parish Council and submitted to Wealden District Council can be found below:

Comments AGREED by Fletching Parish Council - WD/2020/1244/MAJ Land South of Copwood:

The comments below justify Fletching Parish Council's objection to the Solar Electric Forecourt and Solar Farm on Land South of Copwood.

The Council Resolved to Object to the application for a Solar Electric Forecourt but are in support of the principle of providing electric car charging infrastructure.

• The site of the Solar Electric Forecourt and Solar Farm on Land South of Copwood is in the Parish of Fletching. FPC were strongly of the opinion the land to the West of the A22 outside Uckfield was not to be developed any further following previous expansion of the Uckfield business area.
• FPC supports the idea of increasing EV charging points in Wealden and the surrounding area but questions the need to build effectively a motorway service station on a greenfield site. There are a number of garage forecourts in Uckfield (3) and outside Uckfield (1)which could be altered to accommodate EV charging points.
• FPC understands the Shell garage at Maresfield is having EV points installed and there may be further EV charging facilities located at the Premier Inn/ Costa at the Ashdown business park in Maresfield providing increased EV charging capacity in the area.
• Building a large EV charging station on a greenfield site when there is the opportunity to convert and install existing facilities is not ecologically friendly when there are still questions over other longer term car technology like hydrogen.
• Potential traffic congestion at the roundabout where the EV forecourt is to be located is a major concern for FPC. The roundabout access into Uckfield off the A22 is currently a major source of congestion during peak traffic hours. The Ridgewood development has not been completed yet, the increased traffic created by Ridgewood and the EV forecourt will create a major bottleneck at this roundabout and the entry to Uckfield.
• Building an EV forecourt will reduce the natural flow of traffic into Uckfield at a time when our high street's are struggling, we want to support Uckfield High Street this would serve to detract from it.
• A major question is who is the EV forecourt serving? The EV forecourt will effectively be providing power for cars and lorries travelling through Wealden, not local cars that can charge at home or potentially use local charging points that should be installed or will be installed in and around Uckfield. However this forecourt will detract from the character of the local countryside and course increased traffic congestion for the local community when there are other opportunities to build local EV capacity in other parts of the Uckfield area.
• In the Planning and Access Statement it mentions the potential to add HGV capacity. This would be a major worry as there are a number of HGV lorries on the A22/ A26 already having an HGV service station would create increased haulage traffic on the already busy roads.
• The Planning and Access Statement also mentions the building at the forecourt should have maximum exposure and visibility to passing traffic; this is not hardly something local residents will like to see on a greenfield site in an area of local beauty.
• The Parish Council was also concerned it would impact a public right of way leading it to be moved.
• The Council noted that the ESH transport report shows ESH are not happy with the transport arrangements.
• A pre-app was undertaken but the content wasn’t found on the website.