brentwood.gov.uk

HONEYPOT LANE SITE 022: I am writing to express my objections to the above site being included in the Development Plan. The proposed site forms part of the Green Belt and as such, should be protected at all cost from any development. It is essential that the "green" areas on the edge of Brentwood remain so, especially as this particular location borders the A12 and the trees and hedges provide an element of protection against the noise and pollution generated by the A12, which is due to be widened to incorporate a third lane making the building of houses on the proposed site a nonsense. There is abundant wildlife in the fields whose habitat would be destroyed, our back garden - which borders the site, is often visited by badgers whose sets may well be located in the fields. Access to the site via Honeypot Lane is limited by the narrowness of the road - traffic along Honeypot Lane is already difficult, as it is impossible for two cars to pass each other at its narrowest point; cars are driving on the pavement as it is, endangering pedestrians. Accommodating additional traffic resulting from an additional 200 houses and a care home (traffic generated by staff, delivery vans, ambulances and visitors throughout the day, not just at already very busy peak times) can only be described as foolish and accidents waiting to happen. Cars travel at speeds way above speed limits on what is a shortcut to London Road even where visibility is limited, at the junction with Hill Road. Brentwood West has already been earmarked for the provision of additional dwellings in Hubert Road (136 dwellings) and on the former police station site (70 dwellings), both of which will add very significantly to the traffic using both Honeypot Lane and London Road thus compounding existing problems, and increasing the congestion at the top of Honeypot Lane, thus making the site inadequate for the purpose of development. The number of new dwellings in the area will put enormous strain on the local schools and surgeries which are already operating at full capacity and cannot accommodate additional numbers without causing even further detriment to Brentwood people. The proposed site has also been identified as a flood area and drainage is an issue. I believe that these are compelling reasons to remove the site from the development plan; there are other sites outside of green belt area which would provide better opportunities for housing and protect amenities for local residents.