Regarding the Core Strategy Preferred Options document, I would to make my opinions known concerning several points mentioned in the document and I refer to a few additional suggestions from me in general.

I am strongly against the construction of new areas of housing in Rochford District. We have already seen a very great number of developments in Rochford, Rayleigh and in the 14 or so villages in the RDC over many years.

I am strongly against the construction of new industrial estates in most of Rochford District. We already have several in the RDC area and within most, there are some vacant properties and a few areas for expansion within them.

I am strongly against the construction of new major roads in Rochford District.

I am in favour of developing Southend Airport and its passenger terminals, new railway station, freight facilities, engineering and industrial areas.

I am fully in favour of the work done by RDC in the expansion of recreational, leisure and wildlife areas, such as the many woods and the Cherry Orchard Country Park.

I am prepared to accept incremental expansion of existing areas, mainly in or very close to the urban areas.

I am strongly against the further expansion of any of the villages in the RDC area. The villages are already over-developed, over-crowded and in many cases spoilt by what has been built in the past.

I am against the considerable expansion of housing and population in our District. If we were in the middle of the country with a full 360 degrees of surrounding areas and a "hub and spoke" star pattern of routes, population areas, directions, destinations, routes of escape and scope for access and expansion, it might be a different matter. But, we do not have that geography.

With Rochford located where it is - nestled or trapped hard up against the sea in the east and surrounded and enclosed north and south by two major rivers - The Thames and The Crouch and enclosed by the ribbon urban expanse of Southend-on-Sea Borough along The Thames, it is impossible to fit in any more routes or infrastructure. Apart from heading west along completely inadequate and insufficient roads - much of which we have to share with the very populous Southend-on-Sea Borough population - there is nowhere else to go to get in or out. It is a narrow one way approach.

With the infrastructure that we have and the limited space within our District, there is simply no room nor scope for more than a small amount of expansion.

The existing population in the RDC is too high for the roads that we have.

I must add to that the much higher population of Southend-on-Sea Borough competes with us for the same scarce and inadequate resources.

There are no relief roads and no room for any of any significance to be built. I and many people whom I know would protest very strongly against the very suggestion of brand new highways built on green fields.

There is no choice of alternative routes for when congestion is bad or when it will get worse, nor for a theoretical higher population.

one of the problems that we will encounter with new housing in our area is the strain to be felt on roads and traffic, public services, schools, doctors and much more needed for larger populations. We must remember that: For every 1000 houses, we can expect in excess of 2000 more cars on the roads for the residents plus more for visitors and deliveries. For every 1000 houses we can expect in excess of 2500 more people. For every 1000 houses we can expect at least 1000 more school children. For every 1000 houses we will need some more doctors' services.

I am strongly against the growth in traffic calming measures and road layout changes. They are called "traffic calming". But, they are anything but calming, they are antagonizing, irritating, inefficient and in many cases - absolutely dangerous. I fear that with a significant growth in housing and traffic, there is going to be the desire to interfere with road layouts and architecture. In my experience from observations locally, regionally and nationwide, road narrowing, pinch points, road-centre islands, tarmac projections to deviate the path of traffic and many similar types of traffic manipulation result in traffic momentarily delayed and sometimes considerably delayed. The result of that is that traffic having been held up, sppeds away at a speed far in excess of what it would have done if progress had not been impeded. Traffic which approaches pinch points has to pass oncoming traffic much too close to the centre of the road and too close to other vehicles with a closing speed of 60 miles per hour (or more) being the 30mph limit times two. Traffic approaching islands which block one lane with priority in the other direction causes traffic to speed up before they reach the obstruction - to avoid getting held up if they arrived more slowly. Then having rushed through the obstruction, it is a while before they can reduce speed. Road centre islands are a death-trap for cyclists and horse riders which leaves them and the traffic with nowhere to go when a motorist comes upon an island without seeing them until too late. The cycling and riding community are fully aware that the authorities are using them and their fragile bodies as part of the traffic calming obstacles and measures.

Quite frankly, I am against any more development. I understand that there has to be some new houses and services. I would not block all of it, but it has to be limited, delayed and phased in a progressive, slow and sustainable way.

If it is the central government which is demanding new development, then it our duty as citizens and local authorities to object and if need be refuse to accept the development where it is not sustainable, or not wanted. Central government like any type of government has to remember that they are not our bosses who can push us around. On the contrary, we are their bosses and they are our servants, and they should do as we - the voting public tell them to do, or as we tell them not to do.

I feel very strongly about all of these points and if it is of any interest, I am expressing the same or similar views of many people who have told me about such points, just as I have listed in my letter above.

I look forward to hearing from you.