Leigh Park Initiative

New Housing Development south of Churchill Road

• Access and traffic- concerns were expressed that the development would lead to a substantial increase in traffic along Hardy Crescent and Brook Road. While factory traffic along Brook Road might be lessened by the development, the net effect along Hardy Crescent is going to be an increase. Hardy Crescent is a narrow, poorly lit residential road, with a high proportion of families with young children. Residents have campaigned locally for yellow line restrictions because existing traffic patterns have resulted in serious obstruction to local buses, emergency vehicles and refuse collection vehicles, but problems still occur which both obstruct these services, and endanger life. Residents of Churchill Road and Livingstone Road and Barnes Road also expect to see increased traffic. This conflicts with Strategic Objective number 7 in the current draft East Dorset Draft Sustainable Community Strategy Plan. (SO7) Additional traffic along Leigh Road will put additional strain on an existing traffic trouble spot at Canford Bottom Roundabout, the resolution of which is enmeshed in many local, and regional issues and unlikely to be commenced for at least ten years.
• Infrastructure- concerns were expressed that the addition of 240 houses would put a strain on local infrastructure. Particular concern was expressed about local schools, including St John's first school. The community would also like to receive on-the-record detailed re-assurances that the development will not put strain on existing sewage and water supply infrastructure, and on the local telephone exchange, and to be given details of infra-structure proposals to meet the increased demand that this development will place on local infrastructure. Such concerns are in accordance with the East Dorset etc. etc. Dorset Strategic etc. etc. 
• Affordable Housing - There is a broad recognition from residents of Leigh Park that more affordable housing is needed in Wimborne and in this respect the development is welcomed. There is concern that the pattern of provision should meet the detailed projections of local need contained in strategic plans published by Dorset County Council in the evidence base for the Dorset Strategic Partnership Sustainable Communtiy Strategy for Dorset 2007-2016 and not merely reflect commercial priorities of the developers.
• Heathland Protection - There was a concern expressed about the environmental subsidy being levied on this development at the rate of £1581 per house and £949 per flat (a total of at least £250,000 ). It was felt that the costs of protection of Dorset heathland under the Dorset Heathlands Interim Planning Framework 2006-2009 would be more appropriately met from UK government and European subsidies, particularly as they relate to the Government's commitments under the EC Birds and Habitat Directives. If a sum in excess of a quarter of a million pounds is available,  residents feel it might be more appropriately spent for the benefit of the existing residents of Leigh Park, in particular meeting costs of much needed community facilities, and also towards the costs of refurbishment of the premises of Wimborne RFC for shared rugby club and community use, in conformity with the Strategic Objective SO9 in the current draft East Dorset Draft Sustainable Community Strategy Plan, and the stated objectives of the Dorset Strategic Partnership Sustainable Communtiy Strategy for Dorset 2007-2016. We note that this concern is shared by the Wimborne Civic Society in a communication dated 11th November.
• Young People - There is a concern that the current plans do not include any provision to meet the needs of young people, and therefore ignore the Strategic Objective SO4, in the the current draft East Dorset Draft Sustainable Community Strategy Plan, and the stated objectives of the Dorset Strategic Partnership Sustainable Communtiy Strategy for Dorset 2007-2016.***
• Community Centre - There is a concern that the current plans do not include any provision for community benefit for the existing residents of Leigh Park, and that the development has no provision for community facilities, in contravention of Strategic Objective SO9, of the current draft East Dorset Draft Sustainable Community Strategy Plan, and the stated objectives of the Dorset Strategic Partnership Sustainable Communtiy Strategy for Dorset 2007-2016. There is likely to be considerable local resentment in Leigh Park, if once again an opportunity to secure these much needed local improvements for existing residents, is missed. Such resentment is likely to develop into real anger, if large subsidies are forthcoming from this development to fund improvements outside the immediate area around Leigh Park (for example, the Heathland Protection subsidy) and yet nothing is forthcoming for the existing residents of Leigh Park, despite the declared objectives of the Strategic Plans published at both District and County Level.