Cllrs Brown & Bagaeen

BH2018/03633 Toads Hole Valley

14 December 2021

We are writing yet again to make our objections to the above application. The new traffic information does nothing to mitigate the problems that will result from this application on Hove Park Ward and particularly the Goldstone Valley area. The on-line public consultation exercise that was organised by the developers was a sham and did nothing to alleviate any residents’ concerns.

The planning application now includes plans for 1062 homes. Originally the development was for approximately 700 homes. This increase will put even more pressure on the local road network. It is estimated that the traffic in Goldstone Crescent will increase by approximately 50%. This narrow residential road is already suffering gridlock at peak times due to other major building projects in Hove and traffic generated by the development around Hove Station and the Sackville Trading Estate is yet to be seen. Having traffic lights at the King George V1 end of Goldstone Crescent, although necessary, will make even more traffic use that road. Nevill Road should take more of the traffic as it is wider and a more straightforward route into the centre of Hove, yet this does not figure in the

plans. The queues to get out of Goldstone Crescent are forecast to be 29 cars long at rush hours. This will cause chaos on the road and frustration for drivers. Reducing the speed and putting in speed humps will not alleviate the problems caused by the massive increase in the number of cars.

The junction of Woodland Drive/ Goldstone Crescent is forecast to have a 48% increase in traffic and the Woodruff Avenue/Goldstone Crescent an increase of 51%. This is not manageable in a safe way. The Goldstone Crescent/ Woodland Drive junction already has multiple accidents.

The developers are not giving the people who will live at Toads Hole a genuine choice of transport that will reduce traffic and harmful emissions. It is now not even promising a new reliable bus service. There is currently only one bus per hour coming to the Goldstone Valley and no buses at all in the evenings. How will this encourage residents to give up their cars? These plans fail to help the City meet its target of being carbon neutral by 2030! I was also horrified to read that buses and bicycles will “have priority” through the bus gate in King George V1 Drive. This entrance was always to be for the use of buses and cycles ONLY. I would like confirmation that cars will not be able to use that crossover in the middle of a quiet residential road.

This revised application will encourage car use, rat running, increased pollution levels and ruin the previously quiet residential neighbourhoods of the Goldstone Valley, Woodland Drive and nearby roads.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Vanessa Brown and Cllr Samer Bagaeen