Now that the Planning Inspector has spoken on the Borough’s Local Plan it will be in everyone’s interests to look at the many points contained in his review.

I think a substantial number of residents will agree with Cllr. Mark Cory, now the Borough Leader, when he addressed the Local Plan Committee at the start of the process in July 2016 saying, “Colchester is over developed, look at the roads, the hospital, flooding, primary and secondary schools. When will it stop”.

I think many will hope that it will stop right now.

Do we need all these houses? New figures show that there are thousands of empty houses in North Essex. In Colchester alone, last October there are 1,748 such houses according to latest data from the Govt’s own Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In Tendering, there are 2,020.

One is entitled to ask why all communities now threatened with extra houses such as Mersea are being told that they must accept all this extra housing when this is the case? As the Conservative candidate for Mersea and Pyefleet also stated in the Borough Elections, ‘Enough is Enough’.

He also provided a chart showing that Colchester topped the house building league for East Anglia – and by some margin.

In any event, rather than tell communities that they must accept housing, has there been a review of all the brownfield sites rather than take good agricultural land? Or why spoil areas that are of great recreation importance? Others want development but have been refused.

Mersea, is virtually alone, it had the two sites chosen for them by the Borough. Why cannot it now be left to the community to decide? Why can’t substantial infilling that is taking place count in the housing targets? All legitimate points that have been ignored by the Borough.

Come on Borough, let’s make the debate following the Inspector’s review much more open and reflective. ‘Tick box’ consultation previously undertaken does no one any favours. The new consultation must be Councillor lead and get public consent.

Colchester can move forward on Local Plan Mark 2, but only after recognising that many residents had so little confidence in the previous Local Plan.

John Akker
Chair STOP350
Seaview Avenue
West Mersea