Minor updates: 13th February 2014, 6th March 2014.
Summary
The proposal is for up to 4,000 homes and a link road on the fields to the east of Greenstead and Longridge Park. The home building is proposed to start in 2024, but the link road would come first. Work could be brought forward under certain circumstances. More details can be found in the Tendring Council documents I have linked-to below.
These proposals for the 'Colchester Fringe' are part of the Tendring Council Local Plan Review, the public consultation for which ends on 17th February 2014 at 5pm, so comments must be submitted by then.
Anyone can object to, or support, the proposals, not just Tendring-area residents.
I am a member of the public who has views on these proposals.
Please tell as many people about this is as possible, I have not sent information to everyone in affected areas, by any means. Tendring Council are only creating limited publicity.
If you want to email me, please click to add a comment at the bottom of the page, and my email address will be shown (at the end, after the comment box).
Regards
James
Colchester East Action Group
Objection Summary
Comments to Tendring Council at this stage can only be within a set of well-defined areas and should either object to, or support the proposals. See the link to 'Major Changes to the Written Statement' below - that document has a detailed discussion.
I will wait for comments added below on this blog. Once I read peoples' comments I may update this page.
My current thinking is to write to Tendring Council as below. If you agree with me, please do the same. You could wait until fairly near the 17th February 2014, 5pm deadline, because I may have updated this page with other peoples' ideas - please check back!
Paragraph 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework mentioned below talks about 'protecting and enhancing valued landscapes', so to prove the landscape is valued, the more people who write to the council as below, the better! Colchester is not inside any Green Belt, but the National Planning Policy Framework wording still provides protection, in my view.
For anyone interested, the first part of the objection below is adapted from the text of Appeal Ref APP/J1535/A/13/2201035 from The Planning Inspectorate, Point 16, regarding a separate planning application elsewhere in Essex.
Objection Letter or Email
If you agree with the following, send it by letter or email, as described in the 'Major Changes to the Written Statement' link below. You may want to ask the council for acknowledgement of your comment, and for it to be displayed on the Internet.
If you send me an email (as described above), I will email you a template email/letter to use.
If you include the section in the objection refering to photos, you will need to attach or print the photos of the views below. (Permission is hereby granted to use these photos for this purpose!)
"Objection to Tendring Council Local Plan Focused Changes, January 2014:
Objection to 'Colchester Fringe' Development Area - Not Consistent with National Policy
Tendring Council, by introducing a significant amount of residential or other development into the countryside in the 'Colchester Fringe' area, would materially harm the character and appearance of the rural area contrary to the objectives of national policy (National Planning Policy Framework, 2012, paragraph 17, 5th bullet point; paragraph 109; and paragraph 81 is also related, although paragraph 81 is specific to Green Belts). This may also contravene local planning policy.
Local and national policy should collectively recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, seek to enhance the rural landscape and visual amenity of any Green Belt or general green land, and prevent development conspicuous from within any Green Belt or general green land which would have an excessive impact on rural character.
For these reasons, as a minimum area, the sloping land east up from Salary Brook, running roughly from the A133 to Home Wood to Churn Wood (in other words from Salary Brook up the slope to nearly Slough Lane/Chapel Lane/Wivenhoe Road), should be kept completely green, as a nature reserve/amenity area. This would maintain the well-used countryside amenity area and views, and tie-in with the current smaller nature reserve designations around Salary Brook.
Attached are eight photos showing valued landscape views of this sloping area from within Greenstead and Longridge. These views are needed to prevent an overly-urban environment, and should be protected as described in the National Planning Policy Framework.
We also ask Tendring Council to consider:
Overall traffic in Colchester, even after the link road is built. There is currently a great deal of congestion.
The possibility of serious flooding from Salary Brook, if too many houses are built around the brook area.
Noise from traffic on the link road, which should be kept to a minimum. Perhaps the new road should be in a tunnel or cutting.
Public transport, possibly Hythe station, including parking, should be enhanced.
Adequate schools will need funding.
Greenstead and Longridge are already huge housing estates, the above green area should be kept as a buffer to prevent creating an enormous urban sprawl."
Tendring Council Documents
The following documents from Tendring Council include details about the plans for the fields to the east of Longridge Park and Greenstead, the 'Colchester Fringe'. I have listed them in a suggested reading order.
If you start by reading just the pages I have listed below, it will probably save you time.
1) Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), September 2013
http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning/planning%20policy/2013%20Tendring%20SHLAA.pdf
See:
Principle 3, Section 3.26, on Page 11
Broad Area 3: Colchester Fringe, on Page 61
Assumptions on housing delivery in years 11-15 (2024-2025), UE4.14, Land east of Colchester between A133 and A120, on Page 86
Colchester Fringe Map, on Page 92.
2) Tendring District Local Plan Pre-Submission Focussed Changes - Major Changes to the Written Statement, January 2014
http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning/planning%20policy/Major%20Changes.pdf
See section MAJ 2.2 on Page 13 regarding the plans.
Pages 2, 3 have a detailed description of how to comment (objecting or supporting).
3) Site Promoters - Smaller Rural Settlements
http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning/planning%20policy/Site%20promoters%20-%20Smaller%20rural%20settlements.pdf
(This document may be best downloaded rather then viewed directly in a browser.)
See section on 'Haven Growth Area' starting on page 23, including the map on Page 30.
The 'HGA' is also shown on a larger-scale map on page 69.
4) The Tendring District Local Plan
http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/planning/local-plans-and-policies/view-our-local-plan
(This page has a link to 'Proposed Changes to Tendring Local Plan' mentioned below.)
Obviously, this page may change or become unavailable in future, as Tendring Council make updates.
5) Proposed Changes to Tendring Local Plan
http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/planning/local-plans-and-policies/view-our-local-plan/pre-submission-focussed-changes-local-plan
The documents linked on this page I found difficult to read, because they are in the form of changes shown to the original planning documents.
Obviously, this page may change or become unavailable in future, as Tendring Council make updates.
National Planning Documents
1) National Planning Policy Framework
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2
See sections listed in 'Objection' above.
Photos of Views of Sloping Green Area Described in the Objection Above
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We are seeing in the West Country the damage that has been done by houses being built on flood plain areas, Tendring DC are planning to do the same ?????
ReplyDeleteIf Salary Brook starts to flood because of run down from new development then who will fit the bill, Colchester Council, I don't think so, so the existing residents will have to
No they cant do this I've lived in this house by the field all my life and i plan to keep it this way i love the fact I've grown up in a nice sophisticated quiet area where I've always gone and sat on the grass to write draw i don't want to live in some cramped area of houses and main roads i'm fuming about this development and i will do everything i can to try and prevent this we don't have many small green areas and i don't think we should be running and losing what little we have
ReplyDeleteIm a student of the university and use the path that runs along side the proposed area of development everyday. As a biology student and one who wishes to go into conservation and environmental services I am strongly against the proposal as I see it as an area of huge ecological importance and one that provides many ecosystem services. This area should be left untouched and I will be more than happy to help give advice and ideas on how we can persuade the council into why this area needs to stay.
ReplyDeleteSam,
DeleteParagraph 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework document mentions ecosystems and biodiversity. Also, other paragraphs in section 11 could be relevant, for example paragraph 118. Could those be used to defend the area I talk about on the fields near Salary Brook? There could be other sections in the National Planning Polilcy document, too. Your input would be appreciated.
There is also already an 'LDF Local Nature Reserve' in a small area immediately around Salary Brook. It can be seen using the interactive mapping software here:
Colchester Council: LDF Proposals Maps
http://www.colchester.gov.uk/article/4395/LDF-Proposals-Maps
(I viewed these interactive maps in Firefox. You might want to try different browsers if you have problems with one particular browser.)
I emailed Essex wildlife Trust on 25th January, too - I could send you what I sent to them if you email me - email addresss appears after all the comments, below.
J
I have concerns about becoming a floodplain, especially as others have been built on, in particular the development in Cowdray Avenue which has had a flooded road every day this week. I have written to a local MP to express concerns about the proposed link road and that Longridge would become a rat run into Town and The Hythe on roads that are already past their limit and full of pot holes from heavy traffic and use of cheap road materials. Having Tendring Council cause Colchester more disruption without being touched by this at all is an insult. Colchester doesnt need this, Salary Brook doesnt need this. Count on me for my opinion against the development plans.
ReplyDeleteAs a Biological Science student, with an interest in conservation and ecology, I am becoming increasingly aware and infuriated with the socioeconomic dominance of this country. We shouldn't be destroying what we as a species and a habitant of this earth depends on and derived from. The preservation of nature is vital for our health and the stability of our ecosystems.
ReplyDeleteTendring council build 4000 houses, get the council tax and Colchester get the problems! Haven Road already floods at high tide, salary brook will do the same. Where are these people going to work, most of them will drive into Colchester via clingoe hill and Bromley road. Colchester is gridlocked already, we don't need more houses on our boundery, why not develop Jaywick it has a lovely beach.
ReplyDeleteAs a longridge park resident I am strongly against this proposal. This isn't even a Tendring area! The area south of longridge and green stead is beautiful and has to be protected at all costs. An on line petition is needed to stop this going ahead.
ReplyDeleteCarol, initially I think the focus should be on registering objections with Tendring Council as discussed on the blog, before the 17th February deadline. I am not sure whether Tendring Council is obliged to look at a petition or not.
DeleteMost certainly not a good thing to happen!. I agree with all the comments posted so far. I would sign any petition against this development - when are we going to learn that we have to leave certain land untouched, else we shall just be living in a concrete world with pollution and chaos....
ReplyDeleteI have lived on the Longridge Park estate next to Salary Brook for over 20 years, I love the peace and quiet of the area. The variety of wildlife, woodpeckers,deer, etc is a joy and the views of the beautiful woods second to none. The area around the brook floods every year with parts the nature reserve being submerged, if the proposals are allowed to progress how will the houses in Colchester be protected from a new town and the additional water run off this will cause? Why doesn't Tendring council get it's existing towns improved before it starts eating up valuable green space - shouldn't the roads to Brightlingsea be improved and the quality of housing in Jaywick be made fit to live in first? What additional improvements will Tendring make to the Colchester road infrastructure - Clingoe Hill is already virtually impassable at certain times of the day. I am angry beyond words, Colchester has problems of its own without additional ones created by greedy Tendring councillors and landowners - they should spare a thought for the environment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the above and would like to see the area stay as it is, as I live on Longridge I enjoy looking at he lovely trees and listening to the birds while walking along salary brook I would like to sign a petition against this development we don't have enough green area as it is
ReplyDeleteI think it is too late at this stage for a petition. I have just updated the blog, if you email me as above, I can send you a template email/letter to send directly to Tending Council.
Deletehow do I go about objecting to this ridiculous idea?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteEasiest is to email me as described above, so I can send you a template email which you can use if you agree with it. Otherwise, use the information above on the blog.
J
Agree with all comments re wildlife. Tendring is imposing this on us for financial gain and particularly traffic problems. 4000 houses will probably mean about 6000 more cars. No doubt new residents will shop at Tesco, so Clingoe Hill and Tesco roundabout will be deadlocked even more than now. Also the existing 'rat runs' of Chapel Lane, Green Lane and Wivenhoe Rd will be snarled up with the new development traffic accessing Bromley Rd to get into Colchester for all their Public and Commercial services - a nightmare!! What is Colchester Council doing to stop is unsustainable imposition by Tendring. All our services will be swamped - doctors, dentists, schools, public transport - they are already inadequate and at breaking point. Sir Bob Russell should be trying to change the Planning Laws to ensure such opportunistic developments cannot be implemented within say 5 miles of the Council boundaries without joint agreement.................Joe and Pat
ReplyDeleteThere has also been some discussion of these issues on the Wivenhoe Forum:
Deletehttp://www.wivenhoeforum.co.uk/discussion/3113/future-gridlock-at-the-greenstead-roundabout
( Thanks Roger M from that forum for the link. )
One of Roger's posts on February 9th 2014 looks at the discussions between Colchester and Tendring Councils.
Allan & Tracy Blair, Doug & Jan White; Goldfinch Close residents.We would all be against this development,previous comments pretty much cover it.I had thought that this subject came up a couple of years and our MP,was on the case(against)
ReplyDeletePlease email me as described on the blog, I will send you a template email/letter.
DeleteThese proposals have just been put back into the Tendring Council Draft Local Plan, and the public consultation ends tomorrow, Monday 17th February 2014!
DeleteBarry posted a comment, most of which appears below. I removed some parts, shown by square brackets, because I was not sure of my position in publishing them. I apologise for this.
ReplyDeleteBarry:
My family and I have lived in Longridge Park for over 25 years and the proximity to the local countryside, and the views and the amenities that this affords, are amongst the few things that keep us in the area following the over development of Colchester in recent years. I am strongly opposed to the proposed development to the east of Colchester in any form whatsoever. Colchester and the surrounding area simply does not need more housing regardless of which local authority area it is built in and whether additional road links are planned. What right has Tendring District Council got to subject Colchester and its residents to the many problems this unnecessary development will undoubtedly cause? [Sentence removed.]
I agree with all the previous comments posted here and there is so much I could go on to say, but I will limit my comments to the following brief list of points.
Environmentals issues. Loss of open space and public amenities, potential flooding, impact on wildlife, increased pollution from traffic, etc.
Traffic congestion. With or without new link roads, there will be increased levels of traffic in the local area with all the problems that this causes.
Lack of services. A new community of 4000 homes could easily amount to 16000 or more people! The majority of these people will need employment or education and all will need access to health, leisure and other services. Without significant investment the aready overstretched services in Colchester could become overwhelmed.
Economical issues. I really do not believe the local economy can afford the cost all the improvements to roads and services that the proposed development demands. Many of the costs, direct or indirect, will actually be picked up by Colchester residents. [Sentence removed.]
Finally, I would like to add that I do not understand the constant need for more houses in this area. If the number of available houses is really such a problem then do not worry because, if this development goes ahead, I know there will be at least one additional house on the market as we will be out of here. I am certain that we are not the only ones who feel like this. But why should any of us be forced to move away? In the meantime, I pledge to fight this development all the way.