Object

Representation ID: 9230

Received: 08/04/2009

Respondent: CPREssex

1.2 Agricultural Land

The document gives no information as to the agricultural quality of this land - areas (v), (x) and (xi). Whether or not this is currently used for agricultural purposes - crops or livestock the real and growing threat of food shortages (virtually inevitable with world and UK population growth) argues against any reduction of agricultural land. We have to preserve the means to produce as much as possible of our food in the UK. The increasing cost of 'food miles' also points to producing more at home.

In particular we regard any proposal to develop agricultural land in order to advance aviation activity and thereby contribute to climate change - which will further damage the UK's food security - as an unsustainable and perverse policy.

In terms of current usage we consider the proposed loss of recreational facilities for active exercise such as cricket, football or rugby or allotments would be detrimental to quality of life and, potentially, the health of those who use these facilities.

The preferred option for Area (v) is a case in point. Instead of the facilities now available this piece of land would be carved into two by a 'safeguarded' 'corridor' earmarked to become a link road. The implication is that both the allotments and cricket pitch would be lost and the amenity value of the two remaining strips of 'public open space' would be vastly devalued.