UPDATED 20th February: Brightly coloured posters and newsletters have now been delivered. Objection letters will be accepted right up to the day the application is discussed by the Council (regardless of what it says on the notice of planning application). No date has been set for this yet. It's unlikely to be for at least several weeks, especially so given the, separate, legal challenge to the Core Strategy will not be heard until 31st May.
Notifications of a new planning application for Coombes Farm have been delivered by Rochford District Council.
With minor amendments, it still represents the concreting over of Coombes Farm and I anticipate the strength of feeling against these plans will be undiminished.
You can make objections online and clicking on the title of this post will take you straight to the relevant page on the Council's website. You will need to enter reference 11/00781/OUT.
Colonnade have tried to disguise this as a different scheme - referring to it as "Land South of Stambridge Road" instead of Coombes Farm, and Colonnade have even changed their name - to Cogent. But it is the same scheme and the same Company. Surely they didn't think we would be so easily fooled?
The Council recently adopted their core strategy - their development plan for the area for the next 15 years and beyond. Whilst it did not detail specific, detailed locations for new housing, it did, generally, rule out East Rochford and Coombes Farm, with the notable exception of Stambridge Mill.
Therefore the only way Cogent/Colonnade stand any chance of progressing their plans is to mount a legal challenge to the Core Strategy, to try and find it unsound in the High Court. If they can undo the Core Strategy then they have a second chance to lay concrete at Coombes Farm. And that is exactly what they are attempting to do. The Court Hearing is scheduled to take place in Cardiff from 31st May to 1st June.
As my earlier post noted, in the nightmare scenario that they succeed, we lose not only the beautiful landscape at Hall Road but also Coombes Farm. We can't let that happen.
Whilst much of what happens in the next few months will be in the hands of High Court Judges, we can still show how passionately we feel about the prospect of losing a much loved and heavily used green open space, which of course is Green Belt land. We don't want our Councillors and other decision makers to think we've lost interest, we've given up, that it's something we don't care about anymore.
Posters and newsletters will be delivered over the next couple of weeks, and other publicity is planned. In the meantime, please make your objections - click on the title to this post. It will take just 2 minutes of your time.
Footnote: A photo shoot for the Echo to publicise the new Campaign was organised with less than 24 hours notice on Saturday, 28th. It wasn't possible to inform everyone, so apologies, but thank you to those who did turn out. A great example of the Community coming together that will make this campaign succeed.
This Blog will also be continually updated, and all constructive comments are welcome.
With minor amendments, it still represents the concreting over of Coombes Farm and I anticipate the strength of feeling against these plans will be undiminished.
You can make objections online and clicking on the title of this post will take you straight to the relevant page on the Council's website. You will need to enter reference 11/00781/OUT.
Colonnade have tried to disguise this as a different scheme - referring to it as "Land South of Stambridge Road" instead of Coombes Farm, and Colonnade have even changed their name - to Cogent. But it is the same scheme and the same Company. Surely they didn't think we would be so easily fooled?
The Council recently adopted their core strategy - their development plan for the area for the next 15 years and beyond. Whilst it did not detail specific, detailed locations for new housing, it did, generally, rule out East Rochford and Coombes Farm, with the notable exception of Stambridge Mill.
Therefore the only way Cogent/Colonnade stand any chance of progressing their plans is to mount a legal challenge to the Core Strategy, to try and find it unsound in the High Court. If they can undo the Core Strategy then they have a second chance to lay concrete at Coombes Farm. And that is exactly what they are attempting to do. The Court Hearing is scheduled to take place in Cardiff from 31st May to 1st June.
As my earlier post noted, in the nightmare scenario that they succeed, we lose not only the beautiful landscape at Hall Road but also Coombes Farm. We can't let that happen.
Whilst much of what happens in the next few months will be in the hands of High Court Judges, we can still show how passionately we feel about the prospect of losing a much loved and heavily used green open space, which of course is Green Belt land. We don't want our Councillors and other decision makers to think we've lost interest, we've given up, that it's something we don't care about anymore.
Posters and newsletters will be delivered over the next couple of weeks, and other publicity is planned. In the meantime, please make your objections - click on the title to this post. It will take just 2 minutes of your time.
Footnote: A photo shoot for the Echo to publicise the new Campaign was organised with less than 24 hours notice on Saturday, 28th. It wasn't possible to inform everyone, so apologies, but thank you to those who did turn out. A great example of the Community coming together that will make this campaign succeed.
This Blog will also be continually updated, and all constructive comments are welcome.
Can't believe this is happening again. They can't get away with it. I'm writing my objection letter now.
ReplyDeleteWe are all still here and we still believe it is inappropriate to sacrifice Farming Land when there are lots of sites standing idle around the area where old factories etc have been demolished.We regularly enjoy walking the Coombes Farm footpath down to river-we don't fancy a walk around a housing estate!!
ReplyDeleteThe Financial Times on 26 January 2012 got it right: “Climate change, ill-judged policies, protectionism, urbanisation and plain greed have all conspired to reignite Malthusian prophesies of a growing world population unable to feed itself”
ReplyDeleteOrganic farming offers the best, currently available, practical model for addressing climate-friendly food production. This is because it sequesters higher levels of carbon in the soil, is less dependent on oil-based fertilisers and pesticides and confers resilience in the face of climatic extremes. If we are serious about tackling climate change all of us, Government, industry and the public alike need to get serious about supporting organic and sustainable agriculture. Business as usual is no longer an option.
How many more times . Does anyone listen to the residents ? We have already opposed this in great numbers when will they listen to the little guy. Companies think that they can keep submitting and eventually we will get fed up and give up!!!. I am writing my letter straight away too. Weust keep this as farm land and green belt.
ReplyDeleteAll the facts relating to this development have been examined
ReplyDeleteand the result was in favour of the residents of Rochford. The facts have not changed but the developers are hoping that local opinion will have softened "job done, we can all go back to sleep" We must show the developers and those in government (local and national) that we are very much awake and aware and ready once again to defend our quality of life now and for the future.
RDC Councillors should take note and carry out (on our behalf) our wishes - no to further development of our area, no taking from the Green Belt. They are behaving like sheep - WHY.
ReplyDeleteThere are no government targets to build a certain number of homes each year - but they keep saying they are doing what government has said it must.....
Hi James-we got our R.A.C.E. letter but thought it was too late to write= (as deadline gone for letters of objection.) Also wondered- if the information will be updated for the Court= as we now have a busier air path across the Footpath at Coombes incl. much more after dark and with heavy rise in public car park fees (esp. railway)- more use of our roads, near Coombes, as FREE car PARKING!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading this Blog. It is not too late for Objection letters. Regardless of the 30 day period stated on the "notice of planning application" Objections will be accepted right up to the day the Council discusses the application. No date has been set yet, but it definitely will not be before the third week of March, and may well be later. I don't know the date for the separate High Court hearing regarding Cogent's challenge to the Core Strategy but will update this Blog as soon as I do.
ReplyDeleteI was searching for the letter from the builder regarding sound proofing new properties, but I can't seem to locate it now. Can you re publish please. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi, Southend Airport's comments, which refer to the requirement for noise mitigation, can be linked from the Twitter postings on the right side - third one down.
ReplyDelete