brentwood.gov.uk

I am writing this letter in response to the Local Development Plan Proposed by the Borough Council.
Having read through the proposal Document it is apparent that there are many important questions left unanswered and it seems that many things have not been properly assessed if at all.
The impact of such a development on the village and the residents of West Horndon would be significant to the point where our village would loose its identity and would be overwhelmed by the needs of the new development.
I am therefore lodging my objection to this proposal for the following reasons:
1. The use of Metropolitan Green Belt land. The primary purpose of Green Belt land is to precent urban sprawl by the permanent retention of open spaces. This fact is actually stated in the National Planning Policy Framwork. Only in exceptional circumstances should Green Belt land be lost to development Government has clarified that demand for housing is not likely to be considered as exception circumstances to justify such a loss! In other words the need for new housing is not in itself a good enough reason for development on this site.
2. No evidence of any in depth assessment has been presented by the 'Council' into the adequacy of drainage/sewerage/power/gas and telecoms equipment. The absence of any such information suggests that it is no available and therefore no such assessment has been made.
3. It is also apparent that there has been no research into the effect that such a development would have on traffic flow on the A128 into and out of Brentwood. Or indeed the A127 which is already at a standstill at peak times. There is also no mention of access to/from the village being improved in any way. Transport by train, provided by C2C is, at peak times, running at or close to capacity and does not run into Brentwood at all. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that many more journeys will be undertaken by car on roads already full.
At the same time a brand new rail system and station is already in development in Shenfield. Seems to me that this should give some impetus to building more homes in this area?
4. Education: The existing school in the village is also at capacity and is not capable of providing more spaces for additional pupils. Unless of course the school is extended? (Since the school is adjoined by more green belt land. This can always be used!!)
5. Medical facilities are at best only barely adequate and would not be fit for purpose if serving an additional 1500 homes. Lastly there has been no consideration in respect of the existing residents of this village. This development will change the place where we live beyond recognition. It will impact on our lives more than anything else in recent years and while as residents of this village will expect some change, we expect it to be a slow process as all village's experience, not the sudden tripling in size such as the council is proposing.
By all means re-locate the industrial estate to the now disused site of the M25 works and build new residential properties in a residential area. This will help our village and rid of us giant lorries passing through out streets. But do not take away the Green Belt land as well!! It is because of our semi rural location that we want to live here take that away and everything changes. It won't be a small village any more and that will be the end of West Horndon Village.