Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Fri 05 May 2023

Further to my previous highway consultation response, it has been brought to my attention that the submitted drawing proposes increasing the width of the footway into the existing grass verge in order to address any potential narrowing due to the installation of the mast and associated equipment.

Whilst such a proposal does help to provide additional space for pedestrians, it does bring them closer to the traffic using Miller Way and could result in pedestrians stepping out into the highway in order to pass one another. In addition, the creation of the widened area of footway could, inadvertently, create an informal crossing point and lead to pedestrians crossing Miller Way at a busy location (on the bellmouth of a junction) where such pedestrian movements would not be encouraged on highway safety grounds.

Therefore for the reasons above I would wish to maintain the recommendation made by the LHA in that this application should be refused.

Comment Date: Thu 27 Apr 2023

As a result of the width of the available existing footpath being narrowed to just 0.65m were permission to be given to the siting of the mast (and associated equipment) in the location shown, I would have to recommend this application for refusal for the reason stated below. A footpath width of 0.65m is well below the required 2m width and below the recommended minimum width of 1m.

Substandard Footpath Width
The siting of the proposed mast and associated equipment would result in the footway running alongside Miller Way being reduced to less than 1m in width (0.65m). As a result the mast and cabinet would cause a hazard to all pedestrians using the footway (particularly those with sight impairments) thereby giving rise to conditions likely to be detrimental to public and highway safety which is contrary to the adopted guidance contained within the Supplementary Planning Document (July 2020) and Policy DEV29 of the Plymouth and South West Devon JLP (March 2019).