Residents' letter to Knaresborough Post

18 May 2015

Dear Sir

Proposed development - Flaxby

We were surprised that last week’s article about the Flaxby ‘commuter town’ proposal did not mention the open meeting held on the 29th April 2015,which was  really well attended by over 130 residents from across the area, as well as our MP Nigel Adams and Councillor Caroline Bayliss.

The community has a host of concerns about the proposal to build a significant new settlement, which could be the fourth largest in the district. These include: the creation of a  traffic ‘bottleneck’ next to the A1M  on the main access route through to Harrogate and Knaresborough for residents and visitors alike, and an increase in traffic on ancillary rural roads (the 2013 traffic  data shows 35000 vehicles travel along the A59 each day – before including the 300 HGV journeys  to and from the incinerator); the destruction of a beautiful area of green belt which is ecologically diverse and an ideal natural habitat for wildlife;  the lack of planned infrastructure; and lack of sustainable features.

The Skelwith representative told the meeting that the golf course had recently been sold to a new “vehicle” in which they only hold an interest. We wait to hear more from the new owner about its intentions, but do firmly believe that decisions about future settlements should be shaped by local communities and not by commercial opportunity.

Your sincerely
T & J Drawbridge
T & J Cooke
M & G Stead

The Grange
Flaxby
Knaresborough

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