Object

Representation ID: 41104

Received: 17/08/2021

Respondent: Mr Ivor Pallet

Great Stambridge - Objection
Re -
Site No CFS141 – 231 houses proposed (fields at Stewards Elm Farm)
Site No CFS072 – 167 houses proposed (field to the right looking up Cagefield Rd)
Site No CFS073 – 74 houses proposed (field on the left looking up Cagefield Rd)... >
I am a resident of Cagefield Road, Great Stambridge and have asked my neighbour to email my objection as I do not have internet access but feel it is important for those who do not live here to understand this village before making decisions for its future.

My parents moved here in the late 50's with me and four siblings being born here during the 60's. Myself and one brother are now the only ones that remain but both of us have bought up families here. My brother had two children, whilst myself and my wife raised a family of four. The village provides a very safe environment for small children, who were able to play in the street together and on their bikes without fear of traffic or strangers, in and out of each others houses, with all the parents keeping an eye open for each other's children and really bringing to life the saying "It takes a village"...... Sounds idyllic?

However, there was always the issue that the village lacked facilities, with a very infrequent bus service, no shops, doctors or police close at hand, few pavements to make walking into town or to the local primary school safely possible and no amenities for the children. This became exacerbated as they grew older, with many having to travel considerable distances to school, via several buses and trains, unable to have friends from outside the village as transport was so difficult and inclement weather events like snow, cutting the village off entirely. In short their lives become very insular as they grow up, which often then leads to trouble. Some became involved in vandalism or anti social behaviour, whilst others became depressed and withdrawn. By todays standards, a mental health disaster.

In short, living in the village without transport of your own, or the time to continuously ferry your children out of the village for social outlets, education or extra curricular activity to keep them busy and entertained makes life for all generations out here extremely difficult and during school holidays, almost impossible. Compound that with the youth from 550 further houses in this area, without a considerable amount of money spent on transport, sports, educational and entertainment facilities, doctors, shops, pavements etc, would be inviting a disastrous social situation. The local primary school is already oversubscribed, with 95 pupils instead of the 84 that they were built to house, so building without massive investment in the infrastructure is an extremely short sighted undertaking. Having bought up four children here, who now have children of their own, I speak from experience.

Even from an adult point of view, during Lockdown, it has been impossible for many to work from home, as whilst BT boast superfast broadband running along the main road, they have neglected to upgrade the lines to our homes from the original aluminium lines to copper. This means that whilst we can sign up for this apparent "upgrade", our lines are unable to take the data capacity, resulting in extremely slow speed, buffering, lagging and freezing continuously. An issue we have begged BT to rectify for many years now, with no success as they are not willing to invest the finances.....a situation I fear will be repeated by many who simply want to make instant money from the housing, without the necessary investment. Hence many of us dont even bother with the expense of an internet which is not fit for purpose. Mobile phone reception here is non existent, so whilst we can marvel at satellites that enable Chris Hadfield to sing Ground Control to Major Tom from the Space Station, we are unable to phone an neighbour 5 doors down without sitting on the front doorstep and not moving a muscle.......again, everyone wants to make money without it costing them anything.

I appreciate these sites have to be proposed but would ask that without the experience of actually bringing up families out here, that the council listen whole heartedly to those who have. We love village life, the rural jobs, the solitude and amazing wildlife but for the younger generations, this is not a life to condemn them to without being prepared to accept the negative consequences of these actions..............and there will be many. What will be easy money for a construction company and the landowner, will prove to be a future money pit and social dilemma for the council and the residents.