1. Development is detrimental to this current rural Community
The site is not properly integrated with the existing village of Hullbridge. A "green buffer" is to exist "in perpetuity between new and existing developments".
This natural green space will only be directly accessible from the new development and will not promote an interconnected community but will in fact be creating a separate village to Hullbridge destroying the current community feeling that exists. Also as I have seen in the past these developments providing "affordable housing for local people" end up being bought up by outsiders and rented to a percentage of undesirables and eventually bring down the area and the crime rate up. I know because I have experienced it first hand where I used to live.
2. Highways
Although mention of limited highway improvements is in the report no detail is given
as there is no Core Strategy Transport Assessment from Essex County Council or elsewhere. The only Transport Impact Assessment required will be developer funded and relate only to Hullbridge without taking into account either highway issues or other developments in Rawreth and elsewhere in the District. No assessment of road improvements required has been made relating to Ferry Road, Hullbridge Road and Rawreth Lane onto which much of the new traffic will go, has not been mentioned in the report. At present Rawreth Lane is at near capacity and when Watery Lane is closed, which is a common occurrence, traffic backs up along Downhall Road & Rawreth Lane towards Rayleigh and Hullbridge Road & Lower Road towards Hockley and Rochford making journeys to or from Rayleigh, Hockley or Chelmsford very difficult. Also no mention of the impact on the district has been made with regard to the Fairglen Interchange(A127/A130/A1245) which lies just outside the District but which has a profound knock on effect when flooded with cars moving to either London Road or Rawreth Lane, too roads affected by SER6 and also, more directly by SER1. It is stated that highway improvements should be made to accompany the development of the site; this will be too late as improvements must be made first given the current state of the highways network.
3. Development traffic
As with all new developments extra heavy goods vehicles and contactor vans add to the traffic in the area rising road safety issues and health problems for the children and elderly living in the area. They will bring mud gravel and pollution onto the roads streets and private property for a very long period of time.
4. Sewage/Drainage
The sewage system within Hullbridge is already at near capacity as in light rain the man holes in Hullbridge road and lower road (Coventry Hill) have fountains of water gushing out of them. Although mentioned in the report no assessment of need has been made. Part of the area proposed is prone to flooding. It is not shown as flood risk however as it is farmland and no claims have been made against insurance. Flood Risk is based on insurance Claims made.
5. Rawreth
Approximately one third of the development will be in Rawreth, not Hullbridge. This also relates to point one above about community relations. If the residents of the housing in SER6b live in Rawreth they will not be a part of Hullbridge, they will be represented by Rawreth Parish Council and Downhall & Rawreth District Councillors. They will pay a Parish Precept to Rawreth but get the facilities of Hullbridge.
Such a separation will again not benefit the rural Community and does not encourage the new development as a community.
6. Youth
Play areas should be provided on the new development available to all Hullbridge children and as to Hullbridge Youth Centre which is currently underused should have additional investment and encouragement made to facilities there as well as the BMX track and at the Skate Park in the recreation ground rather than have Additional facilities which will be underutilised.
7. Neighbourhood Shops
The suggestion that additional neighbourhood shops are required suggests a proper review has not been done of Hullbridge With a population of around 7,300 Hullbridge has three (3) supermarkets; The Coop, One Stop (owned by Tesco) and Budgens) as well as a number of other independent shops including a butcher and a greengrocer etc. Hullbridge is more than adequately served
by shops but has not got its own post office.