“Garden communities” are actually three new towns, one of which is as big as Braintree itself.

Councillor Pritchard (Letters, August 8) and the minority of people who still support the “garden communities” are still relying on “hope” that they will bring infrastructure and be wonderful places.

One might hope to see a flying pig but would never waste taxpayers’ money on hope alone.

Anyone who takes the time to read the latest proposals for the new towns will see that these extremely unpopular pigs will never fly.

Councillor Beavis and the Green and Independent Group are right.

The evidence is flawed and we still, after millions of pounds of tax-payers’ money has been wasted already, do not know the answers to any of the fundamental questions about how 99,000 new residents will fit on our roads, in our trains, in our hospitals and so on.

The promised ‘mass rapid transit’ won’t work. The routes are impractical and the service will be significantly slower than going by car.

The promised new station at Marks Tey has now been deemed unfeasible and there are no planned improvements to train services.

With no jobs strategy, we don’t know where residents will work.

And yet Braintree’s Conservative, Halstead Residents’ and Labour councillors are prepared to commit taxpayers to this 100 per cent debt-funded project, with a peak debt of £500m, without understanding the risks.

Councillors were warned last time the plan wasn’t popular or fit for purpose. They ignored warnings and sent it to the inspector, who found it unsound and sent it back. Why are they ignoring warnings and doing the same again?

Meanwhile, these same councillors are allowing uncontrolled development to happen because of their obsession with their garden community dream.

We need the district Local Plan adopted instead. Our own council is letting us down.

A public consultation is being held this summer. Search Cause Essex Get Involved for information on how to respond. These new towns affect every single one of us.

Rosie Pearson

Secretary,

Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex

Pattiswick