PETITION SUMMARY AGAINST CASTLE POINT

DRAFT NEW LOCAL PLAN

We, the Residents Against Glyders Expansion, require a true explanation as to why H.15, one of the most unsuitable development plots in Castle Point, was included in the Draft Proposal Plan to build 35 homes, bearing in mind that a previous application in the late 70's was rejected by the council and by the planning inspector on appeal, as being unsuitable for the development of 11 houses.

We require under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 answers to the following points:

1) Who selected and approved H15 for development and what feasibility study was carried out by Castle Point to confirm that H.15 was suitable for development?

2) During the selection of suitable Green Belt sites for development who at Castle Point was unaware that Jillian Reeves, an elected County councillor for Castle Point Hadleigh Ward, owned H.15 and had agreed its sale to Linden Partnership/Homes for £1.5m subject to planning approval?

The Council is informed that it is noted that Jillian Reeves' husband has been corresponding with the Council, stating how fully committed he is to "working with the Council" and urging them to allocate H.15 as a housing site within The New Local Plan. [This letter is on Public Record - ID 273291 - Richard Reeves to the Council.] A complaint has been lodged with Ann Horgan, Head of Civic Governance at Castle Point, voicing concern at a councillor’s conflict of interest and supplying documented evidence confirming H.15 Land Registry Sale and transactions and letters from Mr and Mrs Reeves.

We further set out our reasons why H15 should not be developed

1) The site of the proposed development, H15, is a steep incline composed of unstable clays, which over time have shifted to form numerous ridges under the natural surface loading. To build in this area would entail extensive piling to stabilize any structure to avoid building subsidence and even then there is a strong possibility that this would not be successful.

2) The works mentioned under (1) above would be liable to cause damage to existing properties adjacent to the area.

3) H.15, being so steep and rising from north to south, would decimate privacy and light to properties flanking the south of Essex Way and east side of Mill Hill.

4) The existing infrastructure cannot cope at present. H.15 development would cause adverse effects on existing properties for the following reasons:-

a) Surface water drainage has been a problem in Essex Way and Eastleigh for many years with H.15 and the Farm area draining into an open ditch and pipe work along with existing properties. In heavy downpours of rain the surface drainage is overwhelmed, causing water to flood through properties on the south side of Essex Way, across the road into homes on the north side of Essex Way. The volume of water also causes manhole covers to erupt.

During March this year the Department of the Environment conducted a Water Level Survey in Essex Way. Engineers carrying out this survey stated that the pipe work is only 50cm in diameter and is not adequate for the present situation. Should H.15 be developed with roads, driveways and homes and surface water drainage plugged into the existing system this would be a sure recipe for disaster.

b) Properties in Eastleigh and Glyders already have an ongoing problem with broken and ruptured sewer and water supply pipes, probably caused by land movement. Plugging H.15 development into this existing infrastructure is another recipe for disaster.

c) Eastleigh and Glyders are narrow residential roads not designed for heavy construction traffic.

d) Access to Essex Way via Highcliff Road and Grosvenor Road during rush hour periods is at times impossible at present. This is also an accident Black Spot, as Police records will confirm, and any further development at H.15 would only contribute to further chaos.

e) Poor air quality is also a serious issue as information shown on Castle Point Green Belt Site Sustainability Assessment dated August 2011:"

Para 4.34 - Four sites are identified that are in or near areas identified as being within the 10% most deprived nationally for air quality and road injuries". These sites are:

6: South west of Hadleigh

8: South of Essex Way

12: West of Glebelands

9 and 23: Land North of Kiln Road including land North of The Chase.

5) In 1996 Jillian Reeves, the H.15 Landowner, fenced and planted a broad strip of trees and hedging down the farmland from south to north. However, since this segregation and planting H.15 has become a haven for wildlife. The resident list includes badgers, bats, squirrels, lizards, snakes, butterflies and other insect life. Photographic evidence and inspection will support this habitation. H.15 development would annihilate this habitat!

6) Existing properties flanking H15 Green Belt have had access to the countryside park for 20 to 40 years, through gates and over styles at the rear of their gardens. This access has never been contested by the landowner or resident farmer. H.15 would deny this established right of way.

7) Essex Way, The Eastern Gateway to Benfleet and Canvey Island, is one of the few areas in Benfleet with a rolling green and pleasant aspect when viewed from the main road. Rate payers have no wish to see this destroyed with the H.15 area covered in concrete! Jillian Reeves the landowner was quoted in the ECHO as stating that H.15 is no longer of use to her so perhaps this land would be of better use to the community at large. As has been suggested it could be planted with trees as a First World War Memorial Park or an extension of the Countryside Park, affording views to the north, east and west of South Benfleet. There are residents in Benfleet who would be prepared to maintain H.15 as Green Belt in order to preserve the land for all to enjoy and to preserve the wildlife.

8) In the Government’s Planning Practice Guidance, Section 9 – Protecting Green Belt Land states:

79. The Government attaches great importance to Green Belts. The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence.

81. Once Green Belts have been defined, local planning authorities should plan positively to enhance the beneficial use of the Green Belt, such as looking for opportunities to provide access; to provide opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation; to retain and enhance landscapes, visual amenity and biodiversity; or to improve damaged and derelict land.

83. Local planning authorities with Green Belts in their area should establish Green Belt boundaries in their Local Plans which set the framework for Green Belt and settlement policy. Once established, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances, through the preparation or review of the Local Plan. At that time, authorities should consider the Green Belt boundaries having regard to their intended permanence in the long term, so that they should be capable of enduring beyond the plan period.

87. As with previous Green Belt policy, inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.

88. When considering any planning application, local planning authorities should ensure that substantial weight is given to any harm to the Green Belt. ‘Very special circumstances’ will not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations.

89. A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in Green Belt.

92. Community Forests offer valuable opportunities for improving the environment around towns, by upgrading the landscape and providing for recreation and wildlife. An approved Community Forest plan may be a material consideration in preparing development plans and in deciding planning applications. Any development proposals within Community Forests in the Green Belt should be subject to the normal policies controlling development in Green Belts.

The residents do not feel this Guidance has been complied with in any way.

In order to restore rate payers' confidence in Castle Point Council's planning deliberations and before making decisions on the future of H.15 Green Belt, we request that you reply in writing as soon as possible with an answer to the above comments.