brentwood.gov.uk

The number of dwellings proposed for each site around the centre of Brentwood suggests small dwellings with increased population requirements. Flats seem to be a common theme and there is a proliferation of them already. While I recognise people need to live somewhere, there is little evidence that due consideration has been given to the infrastructure. Living the experience, it is impossible to get a GP appointment; dentists are equally difficult to access, many refusing to take on more patients. The roads are increasingly impassable due to the sheer weight of traffic and it is likely that many of the flats put up will have limited parking which means increased parking on pavements and local roads, adding to the problem. The roads and pavements are in poor repair already without the additional numbers proposed for Brentwood.
There is little said about the retail needs of the town. It is increasingly obvious, that Sainsburys is not coping with the demand and the retail in Brentwood offers little choice to the local residents. The Bay Tree Centre has been largely neglected and the move to remove BM and eventually Wilkinsons so more flats can be built will force residents to shop elsewhere, further destroying the community and will go against the needs of vulnerable residents who may not have the option. The suggestion that William Hunter Way site will provide retail space as well as housing has already been proposed before with huge wastes of public money after the whole plan collapsed. Are we really to believe that there will be good retail provision? Added to this if you remove all the car parks, the suggestion is we do not need them, as there will be no shops to visit! The Government focus is solely on housing at all costs and not the living experience or quality of life of those who have to live there. The plans suggest to me that this has not been considered for those who live close to the centre and I know from bitter experience, how poorly the Brentwood Borough Council function, with poor processes, lack of transparency, and generally ignoring the needs of the local residents.
I am writing this with no doubt in my mind that this is futile, as I am sure all the other objections are. This is merely a tick box exercise. Those who should represent the needs of the local residents have not so for many years.