Dear Members,
We have met with the Kellen Homes construction managers on the fields today and have a few updates to share with you.
As we understand it…
– [ ] The PRW at Kinross will be closed off from the 19th Jan subject to the diversion being put in place. At this point the building area will be out of bounds and secured by fencing.
– [ ] A single panel will be removed from the green fence at Flowery field to provide the diverted PRW.
– [ ] Construction traffic carrying out the path work on the open space will be routed through the metal vehicle gate up by the Blackthorn Road estate and along the lane which accesses the fishing pond.
– [ ] The workforce will remove the benches and notice board and deliver them to the allotments once the panel is out at Flowery Fields.
– [ ] In addition to bollards, access to the open space will be banked at the Flowery fields emergency entrance so there is no possibility of traveller’s accessing the fields with caravans.
– [ ] SMBC are doing a site visit on Friday to discuss the routes of the paths as the proposed plan could be altered to be more in line with current footfall thus eliminating unnecessary deforestation. We have asked for a copy of the approved footpath plan, once agreed.
– [ ] The paths around the open space have to be put in by Kellen homes prior to the land being transferred to the charitable trust, the council have stipulated 3m wide tarmac paths which will all be lit. We would like to see this amended to reduce unnecessary light pollution, so that lighting would only be added to logical ‘through routes’ which link up to services, e.g. access to the station. We are making enquiries with a view to petitioning the council about this.
– [ ] Kellen have not had the ecologists report back yet following the monitoring of the badger sett and we have asked to be informed once this is received.
– [ ] We have asked to be informed when SMBC have signed off on the charitable trust.
– [ ] We have asked for clarification about the agreement to install an electricity supply through to the allotments.
We discussed at length the plans for the emergency access and its proposed use during the construction phase, it is somewhat encouraging that they say that they do not intend for the emergency access route to be used for HGV’s, and its use would be limited to contractors coming to work in cars or vans no larger than transit size, also as it crosses a public footpath this proposed access point would be manned, and tyre wash and road cleaning systems would be put in place.
However we have to remember that planning was granted on the strength of construction access being via Mirrlees drive only, and this was stipulated very clearly. Kellen went into this with open eyes, the current wording of discharge condition 13 is very loose, since it does not stipulate no HGV’s and it also allows for access by smaller vehicles for an indeterminate period. Ideally we would like to see no construction access at all.
At the very least we would like condition 13 stipulate that no HGV’s are permitted and access for other vehicles to be limited to a set period, since once the access via Mirrlees Drive is constructed there should be no need for it.
We realize this access request is fundamentally down to cost, but consideration needs to be given to both safety and the wishes of the community.
Finally, we have requested an expected schedule of works, in order for us to keep the community informed.
Further details will follow once we have received clarification from the developers.