3.1 Vision

As I said before, any increase in local employment can only be good but not by using green belt or farm land.

What about preseving a decent place to live???

We consider the Vision Statement to be quite well developed and we feel it has a degree of local distinctiveness. However, we also feel that it is expressed primarily in the form of a broad 'statement of intent' that establishes generalised key aims and anticipated spatial trends for the Plan period.

In our view the Vision Statement could be improved subtlety so that it provides a greater spatial emphasis in terms of the scale/extent of the anticipated economic and land use change and paints a picture of the scene at 2021 or later. The text of the Vision states 'An area that realises its potential...' and '.......the area's assets and opportunities for employment need to be supported and developed'.

Vision(continued)

In other words the emphasis in the current Vision is on what the characteristics, environmental constraints, opportunities and economic potential of the JAAP area are and not how these factors have been recognised, mobilised and carefully exploited over the plan period so transforming the current situation.

Vision (continued)

A Vision Statement should in essence be an expression of a situation transformed as a result of changes that have occurred over a period of time. The present statement in the document seems to be more of a prediction of likely factors and issues that will occur, rather than a picture being painted of a new scenario at 2021 that has come about as a result of the new development and changes.

Vision (continued)

The advantage of casting the vision in the latter terms, is that the Plan/Spatial Strategy then becomes the instrument by which the 'situation transformed' is achieved. This should help in establishing the right basis for framing the JAAP in the terms set out in paragraph 5.4 of PPS12 (i.e. stimulate regeneration, protect areas particularly sensitive to change, resolve conflicting objectives in areas subject to development pressures or focus the delivery of area based regeneration initiatives).

Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan consultation (JAAP)

Response from Hilary Davison

2.1 Are the assets of the JAAP area fully reported and understood?
No. Rochford Hundred Golf Course And Rochford Tennis Club are not recorded

2.2 Are there any important assets missing from the assessment?
No

3.1 Do you agree with the overall vision for the JAAP?
Yes

3.2 Do the objectives set out cover the key requirements from the area?
Yes But with following amendments
b) Insert local regional after thriving
c) add to end are in place before any expansion of the airport and other areas of the JAAP.
d) remove whether; change or for and

3.3 Are there any other objectives that might help to guide the selection of the preferred option/options and JAAP?
Major public and private transport infrastructure improvements
To protect & enhance biodiversity issues within the area covered and those outside that may be affected by the JAAP area

4.1 What do you see as the role of London Southend Airport in the future?
1. Provide air transport and aviation related industries
2. To secure regeneration to enable it to reach its potential to function as a local regional airport (SBC Core Strategy, Objective SO11)
More on Newquay model expending to Norwich model with required infrastructure. Catering for the niche UK market bringing more passengers in and out and increasing the tourist market.Destinations to N & Central Europe. Thereafter look to northern and central continent, CI and Ireland targeting 'short break market'
3. Act as a driver for the economy

4.2 How can the airport best be developed to drive and support the local economy?
Airport expansion along with economic/business improvements work best as a package. It should be consequential to, and not specifically be the driver.

4.3 What role should the JAAP play in supporting wider employment growth in the sub-region?
JAAP to act as facilitator for both authorities to work together for the regeneration of the area

4.4 Is the area suitable for significant growth in employment?
Yes - But must consider whether growth in employment will create added vehicle movements & therefore an increase in air pollution & road congestion.
Major trunk road improvements vital

4.5 Will the area be attractive to investors?
Yes, if high or medium airport growth options are chosen; if leisure acvtivities are included and better tranportation is in place.

4.6 Are there additional options to consider?
Yes probable detrimental effect of relocation of existing businesses from other business parks in the vicinity causing displacement of labour and run down of other sites e.g. Progress Road, Purdeys Way and Sutton Road

4.7 Should the Green Belt be considered for revision? If so, how should it be revised?
Only the green belt within the airport perimeter should be revised and then only in accordance with airport expansion and safety issues The Area ii(a) should be considered for use for permitted expansion of Aviation Way Business Park (i.e.10acres[4.05h) only) within Green Belt Area as is the Old Brickworks
OR that only those areas be taken out of Green Belt designation

4.8 What enhancements to the environment and amenity of the area should be made? What are the priority areas?
General recreational enhancements for all the population, such as a Nature Park. To be funded out of Developers Contributions and Country Park be extended to take in all Green Belt land between Southend & Rochford
(2) Extra care and vigilance to prevent industrial waste polluting Eastwood Brook. This has been a problem in the past and probably will after expansion of industrial area

4.9 What do you see as the greatest potential impact of development in the JAAP and how can it be mitigated?
Carbon and aviation fuel emissions and noise pollution - Create a 20 year airport expansion plan with improved transportation included.
Have proper consultations with fixed based operators
Mitigation by restricting the types of aircraft used and restricting night flying

4.10 What do you consider to be the transport priorities for the JAAP?
Firstly, identify the cachment area targeted for airport passengers and the other component parts of the JAAP area and consider the new and improved roads required.
There is no conceivable answer to road improvements for the maximum number of passenger numbers considered in the JAAP
Road linkage to central Southend and to the west to be put in place before airport developments take place
As the number of passengers increases then consideration given to extra trains specifically for Southend Airport to and from London.

4.11 How can a shift from car use to other modes of transport be achieved?
Implementation of a travel plan for airport staff and businesses on the airport Park and Rde schemes with shuttle buses to/from the airport
Expensive parking fees at the airport and surrounding roads (with residents' permits)
Much improved local bus services to/from all local areas.

4.12 Do you agree with the proposed areas for change?
No

4.13 Are there any areas that should be added or removed? Why?
Remove
(ii) Agricultural land north of Aviation Way Business Park except :i (old brickworks)
ii(a) (10acres actually on the north side of Aviation Way itself, for limited development only)
iic (buffer zone)
(v) Agricultural land south of airport boundary, currently cricket pitch, agricultural land and private allotments, unless reserved for recreational purposes

5.1 Which is your preferred scenario for the future of the Southend Airport area
Replace with Medium Growth 2b Aviation Cluster

5.2 How could your preferred scenario be further enhanced?
By not revising any Green Belt except what lies within the airport boundary and i + iia + iic
A better mix of leisure inc. theme parks, office and light engineering

5.3 Are there any other scenarios which you feel have not been considered? Expansion of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operations within area (iii) Land at end of Aviation Way
2. Accept that the prevailing road and rail infrastructure is inadequate and cannot easily be enhanced to accommodate an international airport.
Look at a regional airport on the lines of Newquay initially and engage with fixed based operators to plot the way forward with an agreed plan over say 20 years
Ensure that the plan covers both inward and outward passengers to support local needs in air travel requirements and as part of the promotion of Southend and its locality for the tourist industry

The SSBC Core Strategy, RDC Local Plan, RSL Regeneration Framework and also the East of England Plan and the Regional Economic Strategy all have statements about the objectives for the Airport which could be added here to give a clearer picture of the context.

The FSB support any initiative to increase the prospects of business retention and possible increase in the area. Our concerns are the Airport project is seen as the be all and end all of our problems in the area. We have many other existing commercial areas which also need similar support. Though many proposed figures are being used in the projections of employment, these have yet to be confirmed as is the types of businesses. Our concern is the nature of the main stream core business at the airport could lead to large warehousing type builds and very few small to medium sized business units.
The present infrastructure we assume will be improved to support the proposals, but we also have concerns on other constraints, with the proposed increases in local housing this will have a dramatic effect on the existing local infrastructure which also needs improvement, its assumed this has also been taken into consideration

It won't be a place of choice to live play or even work if any of the larger strategies for airport development are pursued.

The council's thinking is shortsighted and ill-conceived.
Expanding the airport will cause a huge level of human misery in the area and seriously reduce our quality of life. Noise pollution is a serious threat to public health, which the local authority should recognise. Increased noise will cause increased stress, interrupted sleep, poor concentration amongst school children and poor mental health.
A sustainable development policy is not one that encourages polluting activities which threaten rapid sea level rise and increased flooding.

There should be no expansion of aviation
No
I object to the proposed expansion plans due to the contribution it will make to climate change and the impacts this will have on biodiversity.
Any expansion at airports in the Thames Gateway will make it difficult, probably impossible for the Thames Gateway to achieve its emissions targets