From:
Peter Morse, York Road, Tunbridge Wells

To:
Nigel Eveleigh,
Planning and Building Control Services, Town Hall
Royal Tunbridge Wells

25 October 2002

Dear Mr Eveleigh

Telephone House - CALA Homes Scheme of Works October 2002

I am writing to express my concerns over the recently published Scheme of Works for the Telephone House site.

My concerns are as follows:

• CALA Homes have agreed to direct all demolition traffic via Church Road as agreed by the Inspector. However, during the construction period, York Road will be used considerably by very heavy trucks giving no consideration to the fragility of the older buildings in the road.

• Whilst the Inspector at the public inquiry did agree that "some" traffic could use York Road, no definition has ever been made on what "some" actually means ? CALA Homes in their scheme of works, show little concession to local residents, who for 2 years will have to put up with a constant stream of extremely heavy traffic down a very narrow road.

• The Inspector himself used the following wording in paragraph 29 of his report, in order that local residents receive some protection during the construction phase, "Clearly some control is required in order to protect the amenities of the residents of York Road during the construction phase". The scheme of works, by contrast ignores this sentiment and does little to protect local residents.

• The Church Road side of Telephone House has a huge turning area that will of course increase in size once demolition is completed. By contrast the scheme of works proposes to suspend parking bays and pedestrian footpaths with incredible personal disruption to local residents the inevitable result.
  - What plans have been made to deal with the reduction in parking bays ?
  - How will TWBC stop builders and other site workers parking all day in the few remaining parking bays that remain ?
  There has been little communication between TWBC and local residents on what plans are being made to minimise disruption.

• In relation to the fragility of the amenities within the York Road area ?
  - What checks have been made that the underground cellars that are dug under the pavements of York Road can withstand the significant heavy traffic movements proposed within the Scheme of Works ?
  - What is the impact on the foundations of the older buildings ?
  Living in a basement flat as I do, I can confirm that our whole building shakes every time a Habitat lorry delivers stock. The lorries accessing the site will be considerably heavier than those used by Habitat.
  - What checks have been made to restrict damage to listed paving slabs that form part of the pavement of York Road ?

On the grounds outlined above, I urge you to ask CALA Homes to rethink their Scheme of Works.

Yours sincerely,
Peter Morse.

Objections to CALA Homes' Second Scheme of Works for the Telephone House Development

Is CALA really going ahead with THAT scheme?