I would like to add my comments to the Spatial Options Consultation. The survey raises enormous questions and few individuals are likely to have knowledge of the whole district, so I am limiting my comments to those sites I am most familiar with.

CFS 074, scheduled for a possible 498 houses, would involve the destruction of valuable green belt and agricultural land. It is unsustainable in that it has a poor bus service, is not within easy walking distance of (or on a safe cycling route to) the railway station, to and would result in hundreds of extra cars feeding onto the already frequently congested B1013.

CFS 045, Belchamps, though rather smaller has the same issues of unsustainability. Furthermore, being so close to Hockley Woods, its development would inevitably be detrimental to the Woods. I believe it has also ancient woodland within the site so should be protected from any housing development.

CFS191 and CFS 251 are also so close to Hockley Woods that development would inevitably have a negative impact on the woods and local wildlife. Though relatively small, my comments above on unsustainability applies also to both these sites. An additional point is that these areas get very wet and boggy in winter, often causing water to flow down Mount Bovers, so that drainage and potential flooding would be problems .

CFS 262 and CFS 049 seem to me to have less potential impact on Green Belt and landscape, but there remain the same issues of sustainability (poor bus service, distance from station, lack of safe cycling routes). Moreover, as a resident of Highwell Gardens, I am well aware of the difficulty drivers face when joining the B1030 in this part of Hawkwell. A right turn is particularly dangerous, because traffic coming round the bend, often at speed, is invisible until the last moment. Exit from the proposed developments would be equally dangerous

CFS 118: Exiting to the main road from any houses constructed on the strip of land by the junction of Rectory Road and Clements Hall Road cannot be done safely, whether access is to be off Rectory Road, Clements Hall Way or through Clements Gate.

CFS 083 and CFS 078 – Damage to green belt, destruction of agricultural land, lack of good public transport, resulting in more traffic on inadequate roads, so unsustainable.

CFS 135 – Damage to green belt and landscape, far from town centre and local services, therefore unsustainable. Also adjacent to Cherry Orchard Country Park, a valuable and much-loved public open area, which will be harmed as a result.

CFS 160 – In addition to the damage to the green belt and destruction of agricultural land, this site is immediately adjacent to Hockley Woods so that building there will cause damage to the woodland, and to wildlife.

Most of the sites I have listed are entirely or partially within the Upper Roach Valley Special Landscape Area which the District Council’s vision statement for Hawkwell and Hockley rightly recognises is a ‘green lung’ with its accessible ancient woodland and nature reserves. If, however, building takes place in this area it will lose its valuable character and distinctive quality, thus making the vision statement meaningless. That in itself should be a good enough reason not to build within the SLA.