brentwood.gov.uk

I've just become aware of a plan to encroach on large areas of open countryside between Hutton and Ingrave, thanks to a fact sheet pushed through my door earlier today.

I couldn't find the consultation form on the Brentwood Borough website, so thought I'd email you directly.

I'm deeply opposed to any plan to build on green belt, for the simple reason that we need the green belt to retain any semblance of a natural environment in which to live. I suspect the main driver behind this building plan is the increasing population stress in this area - in fact, in the southeast generally. I've long thought that the government, let alone individual councils, should put in place a policy of at least to some extent trying to equalise the population over the country as a whole. As it is this area is just swamped with people, with a consequent stress on the existing infrastructure. I'm sure most people who settle in this country for whatever reason end up in the southeast, simply because this is where most of the jobs are. But someone has to call time on this eventually, otherwise we're going to have wall-to-wall housing and roads and very few natural areas to feed the human spirit. I think this is a spiritual matter at its core, more even than economic. I live on Tennyson Road and I love nothing more than popping round to Creasey's Farm off Hutton Village, walking along the tracks there and looking around me, taking in the vista. It helps me to get my bearings, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But it's also a question of whether we really care about the rest of the natural order, especially wildlife. What gives us the right to reduce their numbers by building left, right and centre?

I'm aware my thoughts on this are a little vague right now, and I'm not really a political animal, but I hope my voice can add something to a force of opposite against this plan.