Object
New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021
Representation ID: 42255
Received: 06/09/2021
Respondent: Mrs Susan Freeston
I am extremely concerned about the proposed developments in Hockley, Hawkwell, Ashingdon and Rochford. There does not seem to be any regard for sufficient infrastructure planning.
All these areas have traffic congestion already, the B 1013 is frequently plagued by traffic jams. It serves all the above villages, not to mention non-local traffic. Although the road is narrow in many places, HGV's are very common. The Ashingdon Road in particular, is narrow, often congested and dangerous. Several schools are alongside this road, drop off and pick up times are horrendously dangerous. The many pedestrian crossings cause frustration and irresponsible driving. When a traffic survey was done on this road, it was conducted during school holidays. What a cynical idea,it could not possibly reflect the true usage.
The newly built estate of houses in the Hall Road area was supposed to include Doctor and Dental practices, schools, shops, etc. These never materialised as, apparently, a change of Building contractor meant that the conditions were no longer enforceable. The proposed new builds will put incredible strain on all services. How on earth can the area of CFS261, at the rear of King Edmund School, amounting to 4,447 families,be accommodated by the existing infrastructure?
This extra traffic will affect Air Quality and impact the health of residents.
CS194, Hawkwell Brook is designated a tidal river by DEFRA. The Council's report seems to omit the floods of 1968 and 2013.
Lastly, but by no means least, wildlife has not been properly considered. An "expert" declared the fields close to Rochford Garden Way, had no particular wildlife. In fact, they are home and/or feeding sites for many birds,mammals,reptiles, amphibians and insects. My daughter, who lives nearby, has frequently seen raptors hunting over the fields, which means there must be prey. I have only heard a Skylark in recent years, singing over that field. Lapwings,gulls and smaller birds feed there and sometimes Herons are spotted. Foxes, Badgers, mice, frogs andd toads hunt there.So many butterflies, moths, ladybirds, beetles, bees and other pollinators live there.The trees and hedgerows are nesting sites to countless birds. I won't carry on the list any further, but it is clear that they were all "not at home" when the expert visited.
I am also curious as to why the Cul-de-Sac at the end of Rochford Garden Way is considered a good road to provide entry and exit to the new estate. It is very narrow, unlike the road further along, "The Drive", which is wider.
I would appreciate your consideration of the points I have raised in this email. It is not the fact of new homes being built that I object to, it is the lack of firm plans for infrastructure and services.
I am extremely concerned about the proposed developments in Hockley, Hawkwell, Ashingdon and Rochford. There does not seem to be any regard for sufficient infrastructure planning.
All these areas have traffic congestion already, the B 1013 is frequently plagued by traffic jams. It serves all the above villages, not to mention non-local traffic. Although the road is narrow in many places, HGV's are very common. The Ashingdon Road in particular, is narrow, often congested and dangerous. Several schools are alongside this road, drop off and pick up times are horrendously dangerous. The many pedestrian crossings cause frustration and irresponsible driving. When a traffic survey was done on this road, it was conducted during school holidays. What a cynical idea,it could not possibly reflect the true usage.
The newly built estate of houses in the Hall Road area was supposed to include Doctor and Dental practices, schools, shops, etc. These never materialised as, apparently, a change of Building contractor meant that the conditions were no longer enforceable. The proposed new builds will put incredible strain on all services. How on earth can the area of CFS261, at the rear of King Edmund School, amounting to 4,447 families,be accommodated by the existing infrastructure?
This extra traffic will affect Air Quality and impact the health of residents.
CS194, Hawkwell Brook is designated a tidal river by DEFRA. The Council's report seems to omit the floods of 1968 and 2013.
Lastly, but by no means least, wildlife has not been properly considered. An "expert" declared the fields close to Rochford Garden Way, had no particular wildlife. In fact, they are home and/or feeding sites for many birds,mammals,reptiles, amphibians and insects. My daughter, who lives nearby, has frequently seen raptors hunting over the fields, which means there must be prey. I have only heard a Skylark in recent years, singing over that field. Lapwings,gulls and smaller birds feed there and sometimes Herons are spotted. Foxes, Badgers, mice, frogs andd toads hunt there.So many butterflies, moths, ladybirds, beetles, bees and other pollinators live there.The trees and hedgerows are nesting sites to countless birds. I won't carry on the list any further, but it is clear that they were all "not at home" when the expert visited.
I am also curious as to why the Cul-de-Sac at the end of Rochford Garden Way is considered a good road to provide entry and exit to the new estate. It is very narrow, unlike the road further along, "The Drive", which is wider.
I would appreciate your consideration of the points I have raised in this email. It is not the fact of new homes being built that I object to, it is the lack of firm plans for infrastructure and services.