Object
New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021
Representation ID: 42854
Received: 15/09/2021
Respondent: Ms Joh Mears
Objection to the Spatial Options Consultation Proposals.
In Particular around Hockley Hullbridge and Rochford, All of which will add to the problematic traffic issues, with limited road access, also to the limited Healthcare and Schooling provisions.
I am deeply disappointed by the swathes of countryside/Greenbelt that has been highlighted as suitable for conversion to Housing land, from the report you commissioned with Southend by Lichfields in 2020.
I appreciate that East of England designated you in 2005 with the responsibility to enable the provision of 4750 new builds by 2025, which was added to the 20yr Local Strategic Plan, and that you have fallen behind meeting those targets.
I also appreciate all of the reports you have had drawn up and the various calls for land, which have encouraged many greedy land owners, and developers to offer their land for proposed change of use, hoping for the subsequent windfalls they will benefit from.
However, as a property and business owner within RDC over the past 35 years, I am extremely concerned and as I said before, disappointed that, although the area has grown significantly in population, the infrastructure has not grown to meet the existing demands, let alone cope with the increase of some approx. 15000 + people to inhabit these new proposed properties.
The residents of Rochford District have not seen Section 106 enable the provision of new Schools, GP Clinics, Social or Healthcare services. Prior to meeting you today at Hawkwell Baptist Church, it did seem that it was acceptable for RDC to allow the developers to divide the development sites between companies to ensure they reduce their responsibility of Section 106 obligations. However after it was explained that the funds for this provision has been made over to the council, and you pointed out that you have ‘advised‘ the NHS and Education that it is there awaiting them. But they have neglected to utilise these finds nor provide additional support. You told me at your open event today that you ‘consult with’ other parties regarding development proposals. This is not agreement to provide though is it. How can you possibly prepare for the future if the various stakeholders are not working with joined up thinking/synergy. The affected service partners need to be in full agreement prior to passing such huge permissions, otherwise the additional demands fall squarely onto the shoulders of the already overloaded services of Health and Education. The effect of which leaves the general community burdened with additional constraints.
(It’s hard enough as it is to find an NHS dentist or get a doctors appointment currently, classrooms are already overstretched and local schools bursting at the seams).
Local Police services are reducing, and the demands upon them increasing.
Road and access infrastructure has not been enhanced in any way to accommodate such a huge increase of up to 10,000 more vehicles on the roads (2.2 cars per house hold), travelling around the district now takes twice the time it used to 25 yrs ago, with journeys between Rochford and Rayleigh taking up to, and sometimes over, 40 mins during rush hours.
This increased congestion creates pollution, is not environmentally friendly, and will see a sharp increase to RDC’s carbon footprint.
The water gas and sewerage supplies are greatly affected, which will again affect the roadways as new services are provided.
Water run-off from additional ill planned bolt on sites, will also create localised flooding
Previously, Highways discussed the provision of an extension to the A130, another promise that is yet to be fulfilled. Had it have done so, you might have been better placed to have created a new village along its course, with schools GP and transport infrastructure incorporated.
Interestingly, Chelmsford have done just this with Beaulieu Park. The A130 has been improved and enabled a development which incorporates all of the infrastructure requirements to service the new population. This way shops services healthcare outdoor spaces and schooling have been incorporated, and a new village has been born.
They have met their Thames Gateway requirements, and not suffocated the existing population, but enhanced their District, providing both short- and long-term employment in the process. All of which has been accomplished, without disturbance or displacement of the existing local population.
To earmark so much of our territory is heinous, and will destroy the quality of life for tens of thousands of your existing residents.
The creation of a conurbation between Rochford / Hockley /Rayleigh to Wickford would be devastating to the local wildlife, and countryside and to the mental health of your current community as a whole.
In conclusion
Limited infrastructure has been provided or is planned to support the building of significant thousands of properties in the area, and without such regional fundamental investment, (providing enhanced and increased services and roads for all of the designated locations upon your interactive map), I consider this Spatial exercise to be not only premature, but irresponsible to your existing residents and taxpayers.
You would be better placed to enable the majority of the increased housing provision west of Rayleigh where access to the A130 and A127 would enable easy access, and such a large development would ensure that the full support structure is incorporated at the time of the build, in a seamless joined up integrated planned development with all the service providers, that adds benefits for all .
Objection to the Spatial Options Consultation Proposals.
In Particular around Hockley Hullbridge and Rochford, All of which will add to the problematic traffic issues, with limited road access, also to the limited Healthcare and Schooling provisions.
I am deeply disappointed by the swathes of countryside/Greenbelt that has been highlighted as suitable for conversion to Housing land, from the report you commissioned with Southend by Lichfields in 2020.
I appreciate that East of England designated you in 2005 with the responsibility to enable the provision of 4750 new builds by 2025, which was added to the 20yr Local Strategic Plan, and that you have fallen behind meeting those targets.
I also appreciate all of the reports you have had drawn up and the various calls for land, which have encouraged many greedy land owners, and developers to offer their land for proposed change of use, hoping for the subsequent windfalls they will benefit from.
However, as a property and business owner within RDC over the past 35 years, I am extremely concerned and as I said before, disappointed that, although the area has grown significantly in population, the infrastructure has not grown to meet the existing demands, let alone cope with the increase of some approx. 15000 + people to inhabit these new proposed properties.
The residents of Rochford District have not seen Section 106 enable the provision of new Schools, GP Clinics, Social or Healthcare services. Prior to meeting you today at Hawkwell Baptist Church, it did seem that it was acceptable for RDC to allow the developers to divide the development sites between companies to ensure they reduce their responsibility of Section 106 obligations. However after it was explained that the funds for this provision has been made over to the council, and you pointed out that you have ‘advised‘ the NHS and Education that it is there awaiting them. But they have neglected to utilise these finds nor provide additional support. You told me at your open event today that you ‘consult with’ other parties regarding development proposals. This is not agreement to provide though is it. How can you possibly prepare for the future if the various stakeholders are not working with joined up thinking/synergy. The affected service partners need to be in full agreement prior to passing such huge permissions, otherwise the additional demands fall squarely onto the shoulders of the already overloaded services of Health and Education. The effect of which leaves the general community burdened with additional constraints.
(It’s hard enough as it is to find an NHS dentist or get a doctors appointment currently, classrooms are already overstretched and local schools bursting at the seams).
Local Police services are reducing, and the demands upon them increasing.
Road and access infrastructure has not been enhanced in any way to accommodate such a huge increase of up to 10,000 more vehicles on the roads (2.2 cars per house hold), travelling around the district now takes twice the time it used to 25 yrs ago, with journeys between Rochford and Rayleigh taking up to, and sometimes over, 40 mins during rush hours.
This increased congestion creates pollution, is not environmentally friendly, and will see a sharp increase to RDC’s carbon footprint.
The water gas and sewerage supplies are greatly affected, which will again affect the roadways as new services are provided.
Water run-off from additional ill planned bolt on sites, will also create localised flooding
Previously, Highways discussed the provision of an extension to the A130, another promise that is yet to be fulfilled. Had it have done so, you might have been better placed to have created a new village along its course, with schools GP and transport infrastructure incorporated.
Interestingly, Chelmsford have done just this with Beaulieu Park. The A130 has been improved and enabled a development which incorporates all of the infrastructure requirements to service the new population. This way shops services healthcare outdoor spaces and schooling have been incorporated, and a new village has been born.
They have met their Thames Gateway requirements, and not suffocated the existing population, but enhanced their District, providing both short- and long-term employment in the process. All of which has been accomplished, without disturbance or displacement of the existing local population.
To earmark so much of our territory is heinous, and will destroy the quality of life for tens of thousands of your existing residents.
The creation of a conurbation between Rochford / Hockley /Rayleigh to Wickford would be devastating to the local wildlife, and countryside and to the mental health of your current community as a whole.
In conclusion
Limited infrastructure has been provided or is planned to support the building of significant thousands of properties in the area, and without such regional fundamental investment, (providing enhanced and increased services and roads for all of the designated locations upon your interactive map), I consider this Spatial exercise to be not only premature, but irresponsible to your existing residents and taxpayers.
You would be better placed to enable the majority of the increased housing provision west of Rayleigh where access to the A130 and A127 would enable easy access, and such a large development would ensure that the full support structure is incorporated at the time of the build, in a seamless joined up integrated planned development with all the service providers, that adds benefits for all .