brentwood.gov.uk

I would like to make the following comments to the SGOP following attendance of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council Meeting yesterday.

We moved to Ingrave, From Havering, 2 years ago, specifically looking for a more rural and pleasant area to live the rest of our lives. We think we have found the ideal place.

The SGOP suggests that, to meet future housing requirements, land to the north-east of our villages could be used for this purpose. This is Greenfield Site which our Government has committed to safeguard. I would never accept the Brentwood 2005 Local Plan to build on Greenbelt anywhere in the borough unless there where extenuating circumstances.

I would support the use of Brownfield sites for new build as a way forward and understand that such land would accommodate 2500 homes. I then question why there is need to increase the number of homes beyond this number. It has been suggested that the reason is to house migration into the borough and not the borough's own needs. The migration policy should therefore be re-considered.

To surround two beautiful villages with urban sprawl is crass. We should protect our environment and the places we our most proud of. I would never have envisaged having to preach such a message to a Council that is elected to SERVE it's constituents.

Any housing developments of this size will impact severely on the local population, the existing infrastructure and services. Recent projects in other boroughs stand testament to the way peoples' lives have been badly effected. Do not let it happen in Brentwood.

Please let me know if I have completely miss-understood your proposals, particularly you can advise of any benefit that this will bring to our villages.