Comment

Representation ID: 37484

Received: 28/07/2019

Respondent: Mr J Cripps

In keeping with your recent invitation we submit comments On behalf of Action Groups Resisting Overdevelopment :-

1. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS -
Decades of Urban Sprawl ( on 'exempt' Green Belt )
has made a mockery of Public Consultation which
is now perceived as a 'tick the box' compliance tool.
This is the primary reason why the public response
is historically minimal (sic: ' there is no point...').
2. THE REALITY -
The central Government aspirations on new housing
targets ( via user friendly Councils ) is not matched
by Strategic Planning ( Infrastructure ) funding. This
poses those same Councils with an impossible task
because they are under-funded & under resourced;
and anyway the Primary Consultee (ECC) dictate the
key issues (Health/Education/Highways/Flooding....).
3. THE PRIMARY PROBLEM -
The Government's NPPF Policy is designed to drive
Council Planning in a set direction ( Call for Sites is
the only source of 'free' land supply ). Inevitably, in
the predominantly Green Belt Rochford Peninsular,
this means the very essence of GB Law is breached.
4. THE SECONDARY PROBLEM -
With limited resource, funding, deference to ECC and
Party loyalties the Rochford District Council have no
choice but to elect isolated random plots as a so-
called Preferred Option. The current Local Plan is a
prime example and , by using the same formulae, the
"New" Local Plan will yield more of the same (errors).
5. THE TERTIARY PROBLEM -
Decades of 'efficiencies / capping / cuts and Austerity'
have eroded both County and Local Council capability
for so long that a prevailing climate of make do & mend
precludes any vision. This acceptance extends to the
Essex MP's who are noticeable by their absence in even
recognising their Governments flawed Planning policy.
6. WHAT WE NEED -
The ( now overdue ) Joint Strategic Plan for the South
corridor of Essex must not be repeating the standard
approach again - the scale of housing is too large now.
This critical document must give a clear new direction
on planning the subsequent " New" Local Plans in a
new, modern, long-term ( sustainable ) manner. This
must include assessments of strategic Infrastructure
funding levels required to support Government housing
targets - not blind acceptance.

This cannot be solved by Public Consultation, the Crisis
in Planning needs to be addressed by those responsible
for it at both RDC and ECC - now.