Object
New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021
Representation ID: 41192
Received: 21/09/2021
Respondent: Mr Colin Webb
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the proposed developments for Hullbridge.
Firstly I would like to comment on the changes made when the current development was approved:
The roundabout at the entrance to the new development and the roundabout at the junction of Rawreth Lane and Hullbridge Road are too small and seem to cause far more congestion rather than ease it. Due to the amount of heavy and large vehicles now using the road through Hullbridge as a 'rat run', presumably to avoid the congestion on the A127, these roundabouts are difficult for the larger and longer lorries that use the route, they have difficulty in manoeuvring around them, certainly the one at Rawreth Lane causes problems for the longer lorries, blocking the road as they struggle to turn, also the narrow lanes and sharp turns do not help.
Also in Hullbridge we have been blighted by water and gas leaks, therefore having numerous occasions where temporary traffic lights are used, again causing considerable delays and traffic chaos, I'm sure that these problems are caused by the amount of disturbance to the existing 'old' pipework by the new development and building works. We have the perpetual noise from the development and I know that there has been an influx of rats into houses near the new development, presumably as their homeland has been taken away from them and many other animals.
These problems will be the same or probably worse if any of the proposed sites are developed in Hullbridge.
The continual and seemingly endless decimation of our Green Belt land will have a significant effect on all wildlife habitats in and around the area, as Hullbridge is situated alongside the River Crouch I am sure this will cause significant flooding problems, a lot of the proposed land is liable to flooding, removing floodplains causes serious problems, especially as we are constantly being told that due to climate change the water levels are rising at an alarming rate. Presumably a number of public footpaths and bridleways will be lost to the residents of Hullbridge forever.
A major concern is for the infrastructure, Hullbridge is currently served by a single road, in and out of the village, I guess we will soon lose that title as we become a 'town' due to the continual expansion, this road, as I have previously said, cannot cope with the present traffic volume and the development by Watery Lane is nowhere near completion, meaning there is still a number of cars/vans to be added to our congested village, again we are constantly being informed that the pollution levels are too high but there are new developments being built and proposals for even more without any improvements to the road system, the pollution levels will get even worse as more traffic will clog up the already congested road system. Public transport in the village is quite poor and the rail service to London is far too expensive and until the pandemic was far too crowded, people will no doubt be working in London and will have to travel to Rayleigh to use the train, getting to and from Rayleigh during the rush hours is horrendous now and will only get worse.
Hullbridge currently has only one school, serving both infants and juniors, the senior schools are based in Rayleigh or Hockley and the transport for these has now been withdrawn by the council for the children to get there, meaning, more traffic on the road. There is also one Doctors Surgery which I feel sure is at capacity, as to get an appointment is very difficult, I am concerned that with the current development the surgery will not be able to cope let alone any new proposals
There are numerous reasons for not building in and around Hullbridge, I really do hope that the reasoning behind these proposals is not purely for the Council to gain considerable additional revenue. Please do not ignore the residents of Hullbridge, as seemed to be the case with the Watery Lane development, these people voted and put the council in office they should not live to regret it.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the proposed developments for Hullbridge.
Firstly I would like to comment on the changes made when the current development was approved:
The roundabout at the entrance to the new development and the roundabout at the junction of Rawreth Lane and Hullbridge Road are too small and seem to cause far more congestion rather than ease it. Due to the amount of heavy and large vehicles now using the road through Hullbridge as a 'rat run', presumably to avoid the congestion on the A127, these roundabouts are difficult for the larger and longer lorries that use the route, they have difficulty in manoeuvring around them, certainly the one at Rawreth Lane causes problems for the longer lorries, blocking the road as they struggle to turn, also the narrow lanes and sharp turns do not help.
Also in Hullbridge we have been blighted by water and gas leaks, therefore having numerous occasions where temporary traffic lights are used, again causing considerable delays and traffic chaos, I'm sure that these problems are caused by the amount of disturbance to the existing 'old' pipework by the new development and building works. We have the perpetual noise from the development and I know that there has been an influx of rats into houses near the new development, presumably as their homeland has been taken away from them and many other animals.
These problems will be the same or probably worse if any of the proposed sites are developed in Hullbridge.
The continual and seemingly endless decimation of our Green Belt land will have a significant effect on all wildlife habitats in and around the area, as Hullbridge is situated alongside the River Crouch I am sure this will cause significant flooding problems, a lot of the proposed land is liable to flooding, removing floodplains causes serious problems, especially as we are constantly being told that due to climate change the water levels are rising at an alarming rate. Presumably a number of public footpaths and bridleways will be lost to the residents of Hullbridge forever.
A major concern is for the infrastructure, Hullbridge is currently served by a single road, in and out of the village, I guess we will soon lose that title as we become a 'town' due to the continual expansion, this road, as I have previously said, cannot cope with the present traffic volume and the development by Watery Lane is nowhere near completion, meaning there is still a number of cars/vans to be added to our congested village, again we are constantly being informed that the pollution levels are too high but there are new developments being built and proposals for even more without any improvements to the road system, the pollution levels will get even worse as more traffic will clog up the already congested road system. Public transport in the village is quite poor and the rail service to London is far too expensive and until the pandemic was far too crowded, people will no doubt be working in London and will have to travel to Rayleigh to use the train, getting to and from Rayleigh during the rush hours is horrendous now and will only get worse.
Hullbridge currently has only one school, serving both infants and juniors, the senior schools are based in Rayleigh or Hockley and the transport for these has now been withdrawn by the council for the children to get there, meaning, more traffic on the road. There is also one Doctors Surgery which I feel sure is at capacity, as to get an appointment is very difficult, I am concerned that with the current development the surgery will not be able to cope let alone any new proposals
There are numerous reasons for not building in and around Hullbridge, I really do hope that the reasoning behind these proposals is not purely for the Council to gain considerable additional revenue. Please do not ignore the residents of Hullbridge, as seemed to be the case with the Watery Lane development, these people voted and put the council in office they should not live to regret it.