brentwood.gov.uk

I would like to object to this plan for the following reasons:-
1) The risk of flood to the village and my property in general. In 2012 West Horndon flooded and it was only because of the green belt land, that you are planning to develop, being able to absorb the excess water that stopped the rest of the village suffering and if this land is then covered in concrete then there is a serious risk of the entire village flooding and serious damage being caused.
2) The A127 is at a standstill most mornings heading into London with heavy traffic going back towards Southend. If we were to add the traffic from another 1,500 homes it would be chaos and the road grid locked. Also the A128 is already close to breaking point. Add into the mixture the 1,500 new homes and this would be un-usable and plain dangerous.
3) Wildlife such as various types of birds, butterflies, amphibians
and mammals including the Tawny Owl, Red Admiral, Great Crested Newt and Pipestrelle Bats are often seen in and around the village and the construction of 1,500 houses on the edge of the village, and consequent loss of a large expanse of open countryside, will destroy its open setting and rural character and no thought has been given for these wildlife and bio-diversity issues issues.
4) The planned work would greatly increase the traffic passing through on residential roads of the village which would impact on everyone and again ruin the village.
5) With this development I and the village will suffer the harmful impacts of the development by way of increased traffic, overlooked back gardens and loss of rural character, without any benefit.
6)The destroying of green belt land is defined by National planning guidelines as inappropriate and harmful and unless exceptional circumstances, which the Government have recently clarified housing demand is unlikely to constitute such loss, is unacceptable and bordering on illegal.
6) No thought has been given for the local residents or improvement of the local community, which is direct opposition of the The National Policy framework which says that local planning authorities should aim to involve all sections of the community in the development of Local Plans and in planning decisions.
7) West Horndon is not a sustainable location. It is a small village of 1,900 people, with a very limited range of amenities and facilities. It has few shops, no secondary school, and is remote from the larger centres of Brentwood, Basildon and Upminster, whilst the primary school is at full capacity. There is already a 3 day wait for the doctor and a very infrequent bus service which isn't fit for purpose. If the residents of the new development have no choice but to make journeys by car, the village, quite clearly does not offer a sustainable location.