Effects of Traffic and New Gold Street Access on the Area and People

A leading UK Wine Expert has revealed the proposed winery /bottling plant hugely understates the impact - the number of bottles of wine produced is NOT 60,000 BUT could easily reach 150,000, or more, and is classed as LARGE to VERY LARGE.

58,000 to 68,000 bottles could be collected by customers in cars, delivery drivers and haulage companies with additional traffic from weddings, with catering and music, and site services (waste management, dry goods etc).

This traffic will be restricted to narrow lanes and prohibited from using entrances to private property as passing places.

As entry to Luddesdown is chiefly by 2 narrow lanes (Luddesdown Road -> Henley Street, and Gold Street) this may have crucial affects on the area with the potential for 'kettling in' of residents and others enjoying the area.
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Your views are very important. These changes will affect the area forever.

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* 1. To register your individual view please add your NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL and POSTCODE. Each person in a household may submit their own separate opinion.

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* 2. The proposed winery / bottling plant could produce 150,000 bottles of wine, or more, of which 58,000 bottles would be collected by hauliers, visitors and delivery drivers, in addition to traffic servicing the site (waste, supplies etc.) External events (weddings etc) could generate large numbers of guests.

Increased congestion at Gold Street would degrade which of the following (tick ANY that apply):

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* 3. How much would increased standing traffic at Gold Street affect your ability to enter Luddesdown?

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* 4. The effects of traffic on users of the lanes, public rights of way is a CRUCIAL factor in locating the proposed winery / bottling plant because of the effects on the landscape, area, people who live there, visit and enjoy the area.

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* 5. I agree with the statement that locating the winery / bottling plant so customers attending outdoor Marquee weddings (such as those advertised by Meopham Winery), wine tastings and buying of 58,000 bottles of wine, as well as trucks transporting 100,000 bottles, are seen from the highest point of the land causes the greatest damage to the rural character of the lanes, public rights of way and the landscape.

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* 6. Which of the following groups may be affected by increased traffic at both the narrow lanes entering Luddesdown? Tick ANY that apply.

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* 7. Do you agree it's NOT ACCEPTABLE for residents of Luddesdown for KCC Highways to assume that the entrances to anyone else's private property are assumed to be passing places and a full planning application is needed ?

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* 8. When confronting standing vehicles in Gold Street I would NOT consider it safe or acceptable to reverse 100-120 metres in either direction, including in dark or icy conditions:

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* 9. I am concerned increased traffic and congestion at upper Luddesdown would increase the risk of emergency vehicles reaching me or others?

0 (No increased in risk) 100 (Unacceptable increased risk)
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i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 10. The proposed new access for winery / bottling plant is dangerous and needlessly degrades the rural character of the village and its characteristic lanes when there is already an existing field gate access, so should be rejected.

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* 11. Any assessment by the Kent AONB Unit and KCC Highways that is NOT based on visiting the area and does not consider the impact of traffic on the area and its surroundings is seriously flawed.

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* 12. Protecting the Public Right of Way NS190 from traffic to the highest point of the site should be given the very highest priority when considering when locating the winery /bottling plant because of the effects on the landscape.

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* 13. I strongly object to this application based on the personal reasons stated above:

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* 14. Your experience matters. This may be the last opportunity to influence how this proposal will affect you and the area.

Describe any risks and harms of traffic you are concerned about. This might include: dangers, property damage, speeding incidents, near misses resulting from quad bikes, motorcyclists or other road users entering Luddesdown from Gold Street.

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