Royston is already one of the busiest areas in Barnsley and living here you’ll know that, that’s why I I wish to formally object to the proposed development on Royston Lane.

I have several concerns regarding the impact that the proposed development would have on the local area, particularly in relation to infrastructure, traffic, highway safety and the environment.

Local infrastructure and amenities

The existing local infrastructure and amenities already appear to be under considerable pressure. Local schools, doctors’ surgeries and dental practices have limited capacity, and I am concerned that additional development would place further demands on services that are already heavily used.

I would ask the Council to establish whether there is sufficient existing and planned capacity within local schools, healthcare services and other essential infrastructure to accommodate the additional population that would result from this development.

Traffic and highway safety

Traffic in and out of Royston is already extremely congested. At certain times of the day, traffic can come to a virtual standstill, resulting in significant delays for residents and other road users.

I am concerned that the additional vehicle movements generated by this development would increase congestion and place further pressure on the existing road network.

I would therefore ask the Council and the relevant Highway Authority to carefully assess the likely increase in traffic, the capacity of the surrounding roads and junctions, highway safety, parking and access arrangements.

The assessment should take into account existing congestion rather than considering the proposed development in isolation.

Wildlife and biodiversity

I am also particularly concerned about the impact of the development on wildlife and biodiversity on this piece of land.

Buzzards and deer are frequently seen in and around the site, demonstrating that the land is currently being used by local wildlife. I am concerned that the loss of open land, vegetation and potential feeding or sheltering areas could negatively affect these animals and other species that may use the site.

I would ask that a thorough ecological and biodiversity assessment is carried out before any decision is made, including consideration of protected species, nesting birds, wildlife habitats, hedgerows, trees and potential wildlife corridors.

The Council should also ensure that any biodiversity impacts are properly identified, avoided where possible and appropriately mitigated.

Drainage and flooding

I would also ask the Council to consider the impact of additional buildings, roads, driveways and other hard surfaces on surface-water drainage.

Any increase in surface-water runoff could potentially place additional pressure on the existing drainage system. A proper assessment of drainage and flood risk should therefore be undertaken.

Character of the area

I am concerned about the effect of the proposed development on the existing character and appearance of the area. The loss of open land and the introduction of additional buildings and associated infrastructure could alter the character of Royston Lane and its surroundings.

The scale, layout, appearance and landscaping of the proposed development should therefore be carefully assessed against the existing character of the area and relevant local planning policies.

Conclusion

For the reasons set out above, I have significant concerns regarding the proposed development and its potential cumulative impact on traffic, highway safety, local infrastructure, healthcare and education provision, drainage, wildlife, biodiversity and the character of the surrounding area.

I respectfully ask the Planning Authority to give these concerns full consideration and to ensure that the relevant evidence and assessments are obtained before determining the application.

In particular, I request that the application is not approved unless the Council is satisfied that the development can be accommodated without causing unacceptable impacts on the local highway network, infrastructure, environment and wildlife.

I urge you to join me in signing this petition to object to the Royston Lane development proposal. Let's ensure our village is put before the pockets of the developers