Thursday, 10 December 2015

Can a Holdingham Councillor make a local difference?


The Town Council meeting on 9th December 2015 chose a new Deputy Mayor and also a "Leader". The Deputy Mayor David Suitor represents Navigation but the newly elected Leader is from Holdingham (now residing in Leasingham).


So it is nice to be represented - to query and hopefully modify the endless applications that may not deliver on amenities.




Monday, 7 December 2015

Holdingham Anaerobic Plant: Nearing Completion?

Was this what it was supposed to look like? 


Various things happening within the Holdingham Ward - so I will start this blog with the one expected to be finished first!

The Road, from the A.15 down to the Digestor Plant is half tarmacked but much of it still track. It is already getting very muddy even though it hasn't become operational yet!



The fencing has been removed except for the safety fencing between the Walkway/Cycle-way and the road track down from the A.15 to the Digestor Plant. They did mention originally that completion would be before Christmas. If that is the right word  to use. 


Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Changing Face of Holdingham

So how many deliveries will it take? 


I took this video of Lorries entering and leaving the Anaerobic Site on 13 October 2015. For a short period in the afternoon. The backdrop to it is that the full operations are not supposed to commence until the exit/entrance is finished and the Sustrans Lottery money funded cycle -way is working safely and normally.

However a safety "warden" was in place to ensure cyclists crossiig the track (temporary or otherwise) were safe.

Here is the video. Lorries left by turning left towards the Holdingham Roundabout.

The total effect on the adjoining A.15 and local area is still unclear.

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Preserving the Historic Settlement of Holdingham: Really? Update at start of Consultation Period!

The consultation period has begun: an "exhibition/brief is being held toady 5 October in the Source 3.15 pm to 7.30 pm. The statement relating to Holdingham has not changed much. Here is an extract.


 Sleaford West Quadrant (Land to the west of Drove Lane and to the east of the A15) Development at Sleaford West Quadrant, as identified on the Policies Map, will result in the creation of comprehensively planned, new sustainable neighbourhood to the West of Sleaford of up to 1,600 dwellings (subject to technical studies which may reduce this figure). The first phases of development are likely to include the provision of an appropriate, limited scale(informed by traffic modelling) of residential development served from Covel Road, Stokes Drive and St Deny’s Avenue. The provision of a new roundabout off the A15 will be required to deliver subsequent phases of the development. More specifically, proposals for this area should: a. deliver a new local centre of around 1 ha to meet the day-to-day needs of Sleaford West Quadrant new community and nearby residents, incorporating provision of local retail facilities, services and community uses. b. provide a new healthcare facility of 0.5ha adjoining the local centre; c. provide a minimum of 3ha of mainly use class B1 employment land including a range of premises to complement the existing employment offer in the Sleaford area; d. provide a non-sitetwoformentryprimaryschoolof1.8hasiteareaandsecondaryeducation facility of 5. 5ha site area; e. support the delivery of the Sleaford East West Leisure Link to connect the town centre to green wedges and improve connectivity, as identified in the Sleaford  Masterplan; f. ensure access is provided via The Drove for pedestrians,cyclists,buses,existing residents and businesses and allotment holders, but not for residents of the new dwellings; g. deliver primary vehicular access for the development via a new junction with the A15 with appropriatemeasurestomanageanyadverseimpactonmovementwithinthewiderSleaford Area and the Town Centre in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Sleaford Transport Strategy. Secondary accesses will be provided from Covel Road, Stokes Drive and St Deny’s Avenue; h. Include a range of measures which promote safe walking and cycling which maximise opportunities associated with the proximity to the River Slea and connect the site to the Town Centre;

i. Provision on site of green infrastructure and public open space of around 11ha, which links intothewidergreeninfrastructurenetworkfortheSleafordAreaandincludesmultifunctional, dual use of the school playing fields; Central Lincolnshire| Further Draft Local Plan - October 2015 Sleaford

j. Ensuring that the development is safe from flooding from the River Slea through the application of the sequential approach to inform the site layout, ensuring that vulnerable land uses are,where possible, directed to lower areas of risk or are appropriately mitigated; k. Preserving the setting of the historic settlement of Holdingham.

9.3 Protecting Sleaford's  Setting and Character 9.3.1 Sleaford’s  historic centre and land alongside the River Slea are covered by a Conservation


The draft Master Plan is out and consultations are beginning: not a lot of time and some applications seem to have already been lodged (draft Grantham Road fore example.

However it finishes by saying it wants to preserve the Historic Settlement of Holdingham. A section is given below (Page 105 of the draft Master Plan). Most amazing!

Sleaford West Quadrant (Land to the west of Drove Lane and to the east of the A15) Development at Sleaford West Quadrant, as identified on the Policies Map, will result in the creation of comprehensively planned, new sustainable neighbourhood to the West of Sleaford of up to 1,600 dwellings (subject to technical studies which may reduce this figure). The first phases of development are likely to include the provision of an appropriate, limited scale (informed by traffic modelling) of residential development served from Covel Road, Stokes Drive and St Deny’s Avenue. The provision of a new roundabout off the A15 will be required to deliver subsequent phases of the development. More specifically, proposals for this area should:
(a) deliver a new local centre of around 1 ha to meet the day-to-day needs of Sleaford West Quadrant new community and nearby residents, incorporating provision of local retail facilities, services and community uses.
(b) provide a new healthcare facility of 0.5ha adjoining the local centre;
(c) provide a minimum of 3ha of mainly use class B1 employment land including a range of premises to complement the existing employment offer in the Sleaford area;
(d) provide an on-site two form entry primary school of 1.8ha site area and secondary education facility of 5.5ha site area;
(e) support the delivery of the Sleaford East West Leisure Link to connect the town centre to green wedges and improve connectivity, as identified in the Sleaford Masterplan;
(f) ensure access is provided via The Drove for pedestrians, cyclists, buses, existing residents and businesses and allotment holders, but not for residents of the new dwellings;
(g) deliver primary vehicular access for the development via a new junction with the A15 with appropriate measures to manage any adverse impact on movement within the wider Sleaford Area and the Town Centre in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Sleaford Transport Strategy. Secondary accesses will be provided from Covel Road, Stokes Drive and St Deny’s Avenue;
(h) Include a range of measures which promote safe walking and cycling which maximise opportunities associated with the proximity to the River Slea and connect the site to the Town Centre;

Finally:
Preserving the setting of the historic settlement of Holdingham.

Sunday, 6 September 2015

So will it be alright on the night? A15 Holdingham I mean!

The latest development looks like the photo (5 September) with a link into the Digestor Plant and one out. Hedges have been removed to allow this: also there is anew strip that links one side of the 90 degree bend to the other.



Whether or not this in addition to the present Cycle-Pedestrian track I do not know. Time to find out I suppose.
The Anaerobic Digestor Plant seems to be progressing as planned. I have seen photos from the other side which support that.


Wednesday, 5 August 2015

Only one piece of a complex Jigsaw in Holdingham!!

Which way out for residents: keeping Holdingham as one entity.


These photos represent the view looking East and West from the end of where the 290 properties are planned at Holdingham/A17. The plans are for vehicles to go to the mini-roundabout (near McDonalds) and they then can go to the Holdingham Roundabout or into Town down the Lincoln Road. 

If they want to go to Pride Parkway and East Road then they will have to go the long way - whichever suits them or is accessible. 


So when will it be possible to go to Pride Parkway (still in Holdingham) without going the long way? Ok we don't want a rat run but it is 2015 and modern solutions of control must be on the market. Having just listened to the debate on rhe 200 Houses near the A15 Roundabout at Quarrington which wil have two access points - this application needs to be considered again to avoid serious complexities in the future.

August 13 2015 


The actual debate starts at around 1 hr 15 mins.

Over to you Highways. 

Thursday, 23 July 2015

Changing Shape of Holdingham!?

Latest Photgraphs at end July 2015


I took these photographs today (23rd). Work going on both sides of the A17. Near New Wood the development of the Anaerobic Digestor Plant and access. To the south of the A17 (the Anaerobic Development can be seen in the distance).