Representation on the Proposed Changes to the draft East of England Plan

Why do I need to respond again?
The East of England Plan is the document that sets out the strategy to guide planning and development in the East of England to the year 2021. It will affect your quality of life for decades. The independent Panel appointed by the Government rejected building north of Harlow in June 2006. The Government published its Proposed Changes to the Plan for public consultation in late 2006. The Government ignored the independent Panel and included massive building plans north of Harlow. The Government is now consulting on further changes in an attempt to comply with environmental legislation which it omitted to do earlier. We believe the work has been inadequate and incomplete and will result in serious environmental harm.

The Government continues to ignore its own Inspectors' well founded recommendations!

What do I need to do?
 You need to tell the Government AGAIN that you:

object to the proposals to build at least 10,000 houses in the green fields north of Harlow and the planned Green Belt review to accommodate at least 20,000 houses, doubling the size of the town. 
support the Independent Panel recommendation to remove building north of Harlow from the Plan based on their report issued in June 2006 
make the technical points on the form below relating to water and sewage treatment and the damage the Plan will cause to protected sites. 
object to the over-development of this area which only brings economic, environmental and infrastructure problems, especially those of water supply and sewage treatment, that cannot be easily solved.

How can I comment?

Complete the electronic form below, or,,,
Write directly to:
Regional Planning Team, GO-East,
Eastbrook,
Shaftesbury Road ,
Cambridge CB2 8DF,

responses to be received no later than 5pm on 18th December 2007

Will it make a difference?
The first public consultation resulted in over 3,500 responses on this issue alone and ensured the Inspector listened to our case at the Examination in Public. The second consultation resulted in over 5,000 responses on Harlow North and forced Government to try and paper over the cracks in its plans. We need to build on this success. Now we need Hazel Blears, Secretary of State, to hear our message again

Make sure your voice is heard before 5pm on 18th December

Please do not send more than one response per person (although it would be perfectly reasonable for each member of a family to respond separately) and please do not send bogus responses, since both may dilute the effect of this campaign.

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            Representation on the Proposed Changes to the draft East of England Plan

(Please uncheck any boxes in the following you do not agree with)

 I object strongly to the further Proposed Changes to the East of England Plan because:

  The process for carrying out an Appropriate Assessment required by Article 6 (3) and (4) of the EU Habitats Directive has not been properly followed.

  Water supply and treatment of waste-water was identified at the Examination in Public and the Panel Report as a critical constraint for the East of England. Maintenance of water quality is essential for the future integrity of most Natura 2000 and RAMSAR sites in the region. The water cycle study for the area serviced by the Rye Meads water treatment plant has not been completed. On this basis the Plan and particularly Policy HA1 must be judged unsound.

  It is wrong to assume that the capacity constraints at the Rye Meads Sewage Treatment Works can be overcome to avoid harm to the Lee Valley protected site. Paragraph 15.39 of the technical report states "Expansion of the STW could result in loss of wildlife habitat, including direct loss of the European Site, or other land which may support species for which the site is designated. …. The expansion of the STW is thus constrained."

  Development north of Harlow will have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Hunsdon Meads SSSI and the Lee Valley RAMSAR site. There should be an examination of alternatives but such an examination has not been conducted.

Therefore:

  I object to Policies H1, WAT2 and particularly HA1, as the latter still includes the ultimate intention to build at least 20,000 homes north of Harlow contrary to the independent Panel's recommendations, and I cannot conclude that these policies will have no effect on the integrity of the Lee Valley SPA / RAMSAR Site.

  I object to Government behaving irresponsibly in persisting with its totally unsustainable plans for housing growth in the Harlow area.

My other concerns:

Name:

Address:  

Postcode:

E-mail (not mandatory):

Please note You must supply a name, address and postcode for your response to be recorded

Deadline for receipt: 18th December

Now please click  once (may take a few seconds to react if the server is busy)

STOP Harlow North will submit this representation to the Government as a response to the public consultation on the draft East of England Plan and supply a copy to relevant local authorities

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