Object

Representation ID: 30429

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Patricia Moulton

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding is and has always been an issue with Blackmore. If more houses are built this will add more pressure on the natural ability of the ground to infiltrate surface water. The demand for urban development, impermeable surfaces and climate change are already contributing factors leading to excessive flooding. Blackmore cannot afford to have anymore.

Object

Representation ID: 30436

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Malcolm Hurford

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

The flood risk in Blackmore seems to be underestimated and ignored by the authority, they are failing to acknowledge the increased risk to the village of the two proposed sites which are also uphill from existing dwellings which will likely cause increased surface water flowing and the resultant flooding in and around the village.

Object

Representation ID: 30445

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Luke Holmes

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding has always been an issue with Blackmore and removing 2 large fields will just make the situation worse, the suggestion of digging 2 ponds on the site as a solution is unworkable as at times of heavy rain the water table is at ground surface level. With more extreme weather predicted this situation will only worsen.

Object

Representation ID: 30452

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Vera Read

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Blackmore has a long history of flooding, removing 2 large fields will make the situation worse and is contrary to government guidelines. With climate change this is just the situation government are advising we should avoid, as fields soak up excess water and slow flood water.

Object

Representation ID: 30455

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Kenneth Read

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Blackmore has a long history of flooding, removing 2 large fields will make the situation worse and is contrary to government guidelines. With climate change this is just the situation government are advising we should avoid, as fields soak up excess water and slow flood water.

Object

Representation ID: 30459

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Jeanette Richardson

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Blackmore is identified by the government as red level for flooding, removing 2 large fields will make the situation worse and is irresponsible.

Object

Representation ID: 30464

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Keith Richardson

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Blackmore is identified by the government as red level for flooding, removing 2 large fields will make the situation worse and is irresponsible.

Object

Representation ID: 30467

Received: 03/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Brian Rigby

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Flooding is a concern proposals will not alleviate the risk.

Object

Representation ID: 30471

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Susan Hood

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding appears to have been ignored completely but the problem is still there, and if not addressed future Council staff will have to clear up the mess, when the village inevitably floods in the future. This needs to be addressed at this stage.

Object

Representation ID: 30475

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Ken Holmes

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding has always been an issue with Blackmore and removing 2 large fields will just make the situation worse, the suggestion of digging 2 ponds on the site as a solution is unworkable as at times of heavy rain the water table is at ground surface level. With more extreme weather predicted this situation will only worsen.

Object

Representation ID: 30482

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Andrew Harris

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

The plan is seeking the release of Green Belt land and has no evidence that is justified, or even gone through the required check of passing the rigorous exceptional circumstances check. This has stopped Green Belt release in other sites that were far more appropriate for development that R25 and R26.

Object

Representation ID: 30483

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Sara Harris

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

The LDP recognises the flooding problem in Blackmore and refers to a Critical Drainage Area. However neither BBC nor the Government Inspectors recognise the Fluvial Flooding of the River Wid. In fact the Inspectors have so crass as to remove the original comment that the development may impact surface water drainage. Covering 2 large fields with houses and road will make flooding significantly worse, and this will continue to get worse as the effects of Climate Change produce more frequent and extreme storms.

Object

Representation ID: 30488

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mr James Harris

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Environment issue on flooding completely ignored by BBC and Inspectorate.

Object

Representation ID: 30495

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Lucille Foreman

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

There is already a major flood risk in Blackmore to existing housing before the proposed addition of 70 homes. Has an Environment Agency investigation been commissioned on the soundness of including R25 and R26 in the final/adopted LDP. This is a serious omission and effects the soundness of the LDP.
Red Rose Lane floods on a regular basis and is impassable. Access to site R26 from Chelmsford Road was impossible and consideration of building on R26, even with mitigation measures proposed would seem to be an error judgement.
Emergency vehicles will be impeded on by ongoing flooding (which is a certainty) and to consider using Red Rose Lane as an access point for R26 is problematic on
many levels, ie flooding, narrowness, danger to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, etc.
Also to suggest access via Orchard Piece as an alternative is unsatisfactory, and will lead to traffic chaos, damage te the infrastructure of, the road, i.e. kerbs, verges etc, whether the existing road is "man enough" to support the constant use by HGV's and builders vehicles. The amount of damage caused to Meadow Rise access and verges, kerbs, was significant with only one property being worked on opposite the school.
Surface water run-off -Blackmore already suffers from significant levels of surface water flooding and to propose replacing 4 hectares of green fields (containing quality
farmland) in the Green Belt with concrete, tarmac and "two large ponds" will only exacerbate the existing, well documented problems that the village has faced for
many years.
The impact of climate change of all the above is obvious.
Both sites proposed are disastrous, with R25 being only slightly better.
Both sites are immediately uphill from the dwellings in the existing village and the potential increased surface water run off will therefore flow directly into the centre of
the village, the Conservation Area, all the Listing Buildings and the church. The most serious floods of 1987 and 2016 are upper most in the memory of the village community, and climate change is likely to increase the frequency of these events.
AECOM Sustainability Appraisal (sept 2021) indicates that the proposal to increase density in Blackmore potentially gives rise to a degree of risk.

Object

Representation ID: 30501

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Colin Foreman

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

There is already a major flood risk in Blackmore to existing housing before the proposed addition of 70 homes. Has an Environment Agency investigation been commissioned on the soundness of including R25 and R26 in the final/adopted LDP. This is a serious omission and effects the soundness of the LDP.
Red Rose Lane floods on a regular basis and is impassable. Access to site R26 from Chelmsford Road was impossible and consideration of building on R26, even with mitigation measures proposed would seem to be an error judgement.
Emergency vehicles will be impeded on by ongoing flooding (which is a certainty) and to consider using Red Rose Lane as an access point for R26 is problematic on
many levels, ie flooding, narrowness, danger to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, etc.
Also to suggest access via Orchard Piece as an alternative is unsatisfactory, and will lead to traffic chaos, damage te the infrastructure of, the road, i.e. kerbs, verges etc, whether the existing road is "man enough" to support the constant use by HGV's and builders vehicles. The amount of damage caused to Meadow Rise access and verges, kerbs, was significant with only one property being worked on opposite the school.
Surface water run-off -Blackmore already suffers from significant levels of surface water flooding and to propose replacing 4 hectares of green fields (containing quality
farmland) in the Green Belt with concrete, tarmac and "two large ponds" will only exacerbate the existing, well documented problems that the village has faced for
many years.
The impact of climate change of all the above is obvious.
Both sites proposed are disastrous, with R25 being only slightly better.
Both sites are immediately uphill from the dwellings in the existing village and the potential increased surface water run off will therefore flow directly into the centre of
the village, the Conservation Area, all the Listing Buildings and the church. The most serious floods of 1987 and 2016 are upper most in the memory of the village community, and climate change is likely to increase the frequency of these events.
AECOM Sustainability Appraisal (sept 2021) indicates that the proposal to increase density in Blackmore potentially gives rise to a degree of risk.

Object

Representation ID: 30509

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Blackmore Village Heritage Association

Agent: Blackmore Village Heritage Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

NPPF Para 16(a) requires Plans to be prepared with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. Both R25 and, especially, R26 cannot be considered 'sustainable developments'. They will both be subject to, and also exacerbate, the significant flooding that regularly occurs in the Blackmore Village envelope, as well as the very narrow lanes leading into the Village. Para 159 underlines that development should be directed away from areas at risk of flooding, yet it's clear to everyone with knowledge of the Village (and the frequency / extent of flooding here) that development on R25 and R26 will also increase this flood risk to existing dwellings within the existing Village. There is absolutely no evidence presented to remotely suggest that this policy requirement can be met.
Indeed, Mr Shadarevian QC correctly made the point, at the Hearing on 12/02/2021, that 'there are very few rivers in the Brentwood Council area'. Why, then, would BBC belatedly (Reg 18 stage) include sites R25 and R26 within the LDP, when the two sites are within a Village through which flows the largest of all the Brentwood rivers? It is the River Wid, which floods Blackmore with great regularity, and floods in numerous other places en­ route to Chelmsford, where it becomes a major tributary of the River Chelmer.
BVHA, the Parish Council, our Lawyers (Holmes & Hills), and numerous Members/ Residents have flagged this significant issue throughout the entire LDP Process (Reg 18, Reg 19, the Focussed Consultation, in numerous Representations and, in person at the Examination in Public Hearings). It is surprising that these sites were allocated in the first place, and even more incredulous that they remain in the Plan, especially in the absence of any clear evidence that this inherently dangerous issue can be overcome. There needs to be more specific engagement with, including a detailed fluvial flooding risk assessment from, The Environment Agency.
- Essex CC has, to some extent, reported on the other significant flood risk issue, that of surface water run off (Blackmore sits in a bowl, in terms of topography). However, we do not feel that they have understood the full implications for this Village, especially when surface water AND fluvial flooding meet at e.g Red rose Lane, and the heart of the Village (the Conservation area around The Green, where the Ponds (fed by the River Wid) regularly overflow and effectively cut off the eastern side of the Village.
- To be clear, the River Wid rises just north of Blackmore Village, flows (in theory) under Redrose Lane (but the flooding is that deep when it occurs that it renders this lane totally impassable), continues down the eastern side of the Village, into the ponds, exits the ponds, and continues towards Mountnessing. When it floods, as it does with unerring regularity, not only does Redrose Lane get cut off, so too does the entrance to the Village from the Chelmsford Road. Picture Emergency Vehicles trying to access R26 from Chelmsford..... the potential dangers are enormous.
- There is reference made to 'Stondon Brook', which is a tributary of the Wid, flowing into it well south of Blackmore Village. Why is this referenced, and not Blackmore Village, where the proposed developments sit?
- So, insufficient due-diligence again, and therefore the Plan is unsound (not positively prepared)
- Furthermore, the Sustainability Appraisal (2.8.1) appears to 'gloss over' the reality of what occurs in Blackmore. This (i.e. the reality) is really well documented, including several albums full of photos, some of which are included at the end of this Representation.
- We also feel that the discussion at the Hearing on 12.02.2021 was not sufficiently robust, and the real and serious flood risk issues were not probed deeply enough. To suggest that the flood risk issue should be left for consideration at individual site Planning Application stage massively underplays the seriousness of the matter. In short, the River Wid actually exists, and actually floods Blackmore with great regularity and severity.
- Finally, on this matter, the impact of Climate Change is another very good reason to properly engage with The Environment Agency BEFORE this Plan is adopted and BEFORE moving on to the next Plan in a couple of years' time. BVHA is also taking up this matter with other parties who should be made aware of the seriousness of the flood risk issue in Blackmore. We are therefore attaching, as part of these Reps, an open letter to other bodies, including the Secretary of State, and the Environment Agency, in addition to BBC and the Planning Inspectorate, and we stand ready to engage further, in a constructive way.

Object

Representation ID: 30515

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Ann Rigby

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding is a major issue in our village which history will support. With increasing extreme weather predicted, this will only increase. The plans to provide 2 ponds to alleviate the risk in these two fields will not work as the water table is too high and overspill will give rise to more village flooding.

Object

Representation ID: 30520

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Peter Ryan

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding always a Blackmore issue. Removing 2 large fields will make situation worse. The suggestion of digging 2 ponds will not work as at times heavy rain means water table is at ground level. Extreme weather becoming more common means this issue will become worse.

Object

Representation ID: 30525

Received: 04/12/2021

Respondent: Ms Jane Rogers

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding has always been an issue with Blackmore, so removing two large fields, with the weather worsening with extreme weather predicted the situation will only worsen.

Object

Representation ID: 30532

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Ms. Donna Toomey

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Blackmore has a long history of flooding, removing 2 large green fields will make the situation worse and is contrary to government guidelines. With climate change this is just the situation the government are advising we should avoid as fields soak up excess water and slow flood waters. This is irresponsible BBC needs to think long term not just go for quick fix.

Object

Representation ID: 30537

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Joanne Ryan

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding has always been an issue with Blackmore and removing 2 large fields will just make the situation worse, the suggestion of digging 2 ponds on the site as a solution is unworkable as at times of heavy rain the water table is at ground surface level. With more extreme weather predicted this situation will only worsen.

Object

Representation ID: 30541

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Susan Webb

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

The village has experience regular surface water flooding problems and the measures taken to date by the council have failed to stop the problem. The known flooding of the River Wid has not even been raised, even though it is identified as high risk on the Essex County Council Flood risk map.

Object

Representation ID: 30545

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Joan Westover

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Blackmore is classified as 'a critical drainage area'. Having lived in Blackmore since 1971 there have been many floods when there is heavy rain with cars unable to enter and exist the village.

Object

Representation ID: 30558

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mr John Richardson

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Flooding in Blackmore is a frequent occurrence. The construction of ponds on the Stonebond development and on fields R25 and R26 are only a token solution as there is a natural high water table and wet weather will soon fill the ponds and the water will overflow into the water table. Situation will only get worse with extreme weather predictions leading to higher temperatures and water levels.

Object

Representation ID: 30565

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Blackmore Village Heritage Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

There needs to be more specific engagement with, and a report from, The Environment Agency.
- Essex CC has, to (some extent), reported on surface water run off (Albeit not understood the full implications for Blackmore)
- But on the massively important subject of fluvial flooding, and the regularity with which the River Wid floods Blackmore, there is insufficient due diligence.
- In this respect the LDP is unsound (not positively prepared).
- The River Wid rises just north of Blackmore, and regularly causes flooding along the Chelmsford Road (main route into the village) and along Redrose Lane (rendering the proposed access road to R26 impassable).
-This major area of concern occurs north of the Stondon Hall Brook tributary to which you do refer, in rather more detail.
- The Sustainability Appraisal (2.8.1) seems to gloss over the reality in Blackmore. This flooding is well documented, including albums of photos, some of which are attached.
- We also contest the robustness of and conclusions from. The discussions at the Local Plan Hearing. Referred to in the Sustainability Appraisal (Hearing on 12.02.21).
- So just to underline, the flooding issues in Blackmore (Surface Water and Fluvial) are real and serious.
- The impact of future climate change is another good reason to properly engage with the Environment Agency before this plan is adopted and before moving onto the next plan, in the immediate future. Get it right now.

Object

Representation ID: 30573

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Judith Wood

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

More houses result in more hard standing thus increasing flooding. R25 and R26 will increase flood risk in the village as well as sewage drainage issues.

Object

Representation ID: 30575

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Alison Ratcliffe

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Disagree strongly with the comment made during the environmental hearing session on the 12th Feb 2021 the ‘we have consulted with Essex and that’s as far as we can go’.
I have lived in the village nearly 35 years and have witnessed regular and sever flooding first-hand. A need to listen and act positively to residents concerns before a wrong decision is made.

Object

Representation ID: 30579

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Stuart Townsend

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Impact of drainage, flooding and sewage due to the development of these sites (R25 and R26).

Object

Representation ID: 30592

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mr Raymond Thompson

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Ground surface level water is caused by moderate rain in Blackmore and removing two fields will only worsen the exceptional flood risk in the village, which often leaves roads impossible. With the current climate change outlook and BBC's disregard for the issues of flooding in the village, the construction of houses will only worse the situation.

Object

Representation ID: 30593

Received: 06/12/2021

Respondent: Mrs Sylvia Pascoe

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

The proposal is unsound because it has not taken into consideration the feelings and views of the current local population on things such as:
- Flooding, because their will be more pressure on the current sewage network (that already needs repairing).