In response to the Spatial Options Consultation,

Insufficient infrastructure to support further houses, such as;

Doctors - there are already significant issues in obtaining appointments and while you may argue this can be overcome with more doctors, there is a shortage in general which is unlikely to be overcome in the mid-term which puts additional stress on this remaining resources.

Roads - two main roads in and out of the village which already have issues with speeding which you have not addressed. In addition, being a peninsula with limited local employment, this will put additional strain on already strained roads at peak times. This is a particularly for the A127 which experiences lengthy queuing up to and including Progress road and M25 junction.

Parking - parking in the village, especially around the limited shops and at school start and finish times is already a significant issue, causing antisocial parking habits which impact local residents and increase the potential for more serious accidents.

Flooding - insufficient drainage to deal with surface water already with localised flooding. Potential for future tidal flooding if the current sea defences are not maintained and potentially increased to counter the affects of global warming.

School - insufficient spaces already with both Great Wakering and Barling primary schools overly full and residents needing to keep children in schools outside of the area.

Policing - increase in housing will result in an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour for which the local authorities give little interest in. We already have a lack of police presence in the village and further house building will make the situation worse still.

The current round of house building, which is getting out of hand given the above, has, for the last year, been a source of noise and dust pollution which they have done little to control. I’m under no illusion that this would be regularly inspected or controlled given the issues experienced so far.

Given the issues experienced as a result of the pandemic which has highlighted this country exposure to supply chain issues, farmland should remain as farmland to support the ever increasing demand in basic foodstuffs.