I have taken the opportunity to have a look through the local plan which you currently have on your website. I would like to make some general comments and observations based mainly on the sustainability document and the proposed sites for development. it is mentioned that existing greenbelt and ancient woodland will be a consideration when making final decisions, but when viewing your maps it seems like most of the proposed sites are indeed on greenbelt, including area of woodland.

As an example of one of the greenbelt sites proposed I'd like to make points on the one that is closest to where I live. This would be the end of Victor gardens where I often walk my dog round Clements Hall itself and round to the playing fields beyond. I note that Greenacres and Meadowlands have put up their properties for development as well as the woodland to the left as you walk down the lane towards Clements Hall. This is, of course, a bridleway, so, firstly, how will the traffic created from such a development be conducive to the riders using this bridleway? Bridleways by definition are there to keep horses and riders away from the roads, so any development of the size proposed in this area will cause problems not only for the horses as the volume of traffic will be an issue for the whole of Victor Gardens - it's already a job for cars to negotiate their way up the
road because it is already full of parked cars and any further development will only create a bottleneck. My main concern, however, would be the removal of woodland that exists in this part of Victor Gardens. The survival of all our remaining woodland has to be a priority. Although this particular piece of woodland is privately owned , the very fact that people are not entering it allows the wildlife to exist as they should. On occasion I have heard owls in there and these little pockets or oasis's of woodland must be allowed to survive. It will be to our detriment if we don't look after it. I know that this part of Victor Gardens has had various planning applications put forward in the past and all have been rejected. These were based on far fewer houses than the current proposal, so if these were rejected how can this huge development plan be considered.

My overall observations on the developments we have had in the Rockford area so far is that the majority of the houses built are priced at the high end - where or, indeed, what is affordable housing? These houses are only accessible to high earners commuting to London or people moving out of London, Ilford, Romford etc. who can afford the very high prices being demanded for these properties. I see no chance for local people, who work locally being able to get anywhere near affording these properties. The people who benefit are the landowners and the developers, who obviously make a lot of money out of there developments. All we are doing is turning our greenbelt and communities into another superb of London. Sad but true.
Your document mentions a mix of houses to suit the needs of all sectors of the community. Well most of the developments I've seen - Beckley woods, the Christmas Tree Farm and Hall road a few examples - so very little evidence of this.

The Sustainability document goes on to mention the need for infrastructure requirements. The need to improve the local road network, to introduce new doctors surgery and schools. This is pretty obvious, but how can the local road system be improved? To my mind, and many others, it simply can't be improved. For example, Aldermans Hill and Hockley road is number to number every weekday evening from 4pm for a couple of hours at least. Road works with random traffic lights pop up everywhere and cause untold delays. In short, the local roads struggle to cope now - I see no way to avoid and escalation of this over the years.
We know doctors surgery are struggling to cope everywhere and I imagine existing schools will not be able to manage the intake of new pupils easily. I know there is a commitment to improved infrastructure, but there has been scant evidence of this in the developments we have had so far (Hall Road is a good example I believe) and I really wonder where the money for all this will come from. The developers? They have proved that they will do what they can to avoid this. The government? - nowhere near enough. Essex Count Council? - Again, nowhere near enough.

If anything, a village like development where schools, doctors and roads can be planned in conjunction with the building of the houses would be the most sensible approach, placing it in the most accessible location in the area. Brown field sites ( mostly old nurseries etc.) could also be developed. This will,obviously, always fall short of the 7,500 houses planned, but I think it's also obvious that the Rockford area can't sustain 7,500 houses, even if it is planned to take place over 20 years.

I know the council is just putting it out there and no sites have been confirmed, however, my conclusion is that the local plan appears to be no plan at all, and therefore I would like you to note my objection to this consultation at this stage.