Issues and Options for the Ipswich Local Plan Review

Comment

Representation ID: 24806

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

We consider that Scenario B, the Medium Growth Forecast, is a realistic one. Ipswich is one of the key centres of population and employment in East Anglia, improved rail services to London, Cambridge and Norwich are planned while land and housing costs are relatively low for South East England. The town is therefore ideally placed to attract jobs and housing demand.

Comment

Representation ID: 24807

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

Communities are more likely to accept significant new growth if it means that significant new infrastructure will also be provided. In fact, pressure for growth will be inevitable. By planning for growth and identifying the infrastructure that this requires, the local authority is in a stronger position to bid for infrastructure funding from central government. The document accepts that capacity on local rail lines is already an issue. Further development can and should lead to improvements in infrastructure.

Comment

Representation ID: 24808

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

Improvements are needed to the local rail network. Atkins, consultants to East/West Rail, are putting the case for an increase in train service frequency into Ipswich from Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe. This will require additional platform capacity at Ipswich and double-tracking the Felixstowe line. The proposed Ipswich Garden Village should benefit from a relocated Westerfield station served by more trains than at present. East Suffolk Line capacity should be enhanced to enable half-hourly services to Woodbridge and Saxmundham, and provide Woodbridge with a more attractive service into Ipswich. Ideally, the entire section from Woodbridge to Saxmundham should be re-doubled.

Comment

Representation ID: 24809

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

Improvements are needed to the local rail network. Atkins, consultants to East/West Rail, are putting the case for an increase in train service frequency into Ipswich from Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe. This will require additional platform capacity at Ipswich and double-tracking the Felixstowe line. The proposed Ipswich Garden Village should benefit from a relocated Westerfield station served by more trains than at present. East Suffolk Line capacity should be enhanced to enable half-hourly services to Woodbridge and Saxmundham, and provide Woodbridge with a more attractive service into Ipswich. Ideally, the entire section from Woodbridge to Saxmundham should be re-doubled.

Comment

Representation ID: 24810

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

A blend of options 4 and 5. The key to maximising sustainable travel will be to focus development in and around towns with good access to the rail network. Three obvious examples are Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Saxmundham. Leiston also has potential access to the rail network if the branch is again served by passenger trains. Framlingham is 6 miles from the nearest railhead by a secondary road and is thus less of a candidate for growth. Estate agents' websites show that "distance to nearest rail station" has overtaken "school catchment" as the most important consideration when choosing where to live.

Comment

Representation ID: 24811

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

The key to maximising sustainable travel will be to focus development in and around towns with good access to the rail network. Three obvious examples are Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Saxmundham. Leiston also has potential access to the rail network if the branch is again served by passenger trains. Framlingham is 6 miles from the nearest railhead by a secondary road and is thus less of a candidate for growth. A study of estate agents' websites has revealed that "distance to nearest rail station" has overtaken "school catchment" as the most important consideration when choosing where to live.

Comment

Representation ID: 24812

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

As the document states, 'Creating roadspace is not the only solution.' Future growth of employment and leisure facilities must take into account how easy it is to access these by train and/or bus. Better access by public transport to key destinations on the periphery, e.g. the hospital, Ransomes Europark and Whitehouse Employment Area, must also be addressed. The document also refers to the future role of electric vehicles. These may indeed have a role to play for all or part of a journey. However, electric cars must not be seen as panacea for all problems, because they still cause congestion.

Comment

Representation ID: 24813

Received: 14/10/2017

Respondent: East Suffolk Travellers Association

Future growth of employment and leisure facilities must take into account how easy it is to access these by train and/or bus. Better access by public transport to key destinations on the periphery, e.g. the hospital, Ransomes Europark and Whitehouse Employment Area, must also be addressed. The document also refers to the future role of electric vehicles. These may indeed have a role to play for all or part of a journey. However, electric cars must not be seen as panacea for all problems, because they still cause congestion.