Letter to Editor: The loss of Harlow’s Green Belt takes a step closer
Politics / Mon 30th May 2022 at 06:42am
SOME four years have elapsed since Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) began work on its new Local Plan, who would have thought that it would take so long to complete?
Since early 2019 three Planning Inspectors have been charged by the Government to look at the Plan. The latest of these has indicated in a letter to EFDC dated 23 May that he will have completed the latest stage of his work next week, but this only involves minor changes, not ones involving where thousands off homes will be built.
These changes will be subject to consultation, once completed the Plan will be signed off by EFDC, probably by the end of the year.
Readers will be aware that the Harlow Alliance Party was the only Party to object when it really mattered to the thousands of homes that will be built close to Harlow’s borders. Not a single Council home, no benefit to Harlow or its residents, more traffic and more people using Harlow’s services without paying a penny in Council Tax to support them.
The loss of the Green Belt land around Harlow is to be mourned.
Nicholas Taylor
Harlow Alliance Party
Danny
2022-05-30 07:31:41
As long as we have a council that is prepared to support party colleagues from other constituencies instead of protecting and representing their own then Harlow will continue to rot from the inside.
Tiredoffailedpoliticalnorms
2022-05-30 08:22:05
Thanks to HAP for at least raising awareness, unlike our self serving small minded local government.
Keith David Horton
2022-05-30 08:28:15
Those councillors who plan and agree with building on OUR precious “Green Land and Green Belt” are as guilty of a crime against The Earth, as those who are destroying The Amazon and other World Forests and Wildlife?
Nostradamus
2022-05-30 08:29:30
Time to build a city wall ! Alternatively find every space that can be declared a village green or protected ancient wood or SSI whilst setting up park and ride at J7, J7a, near Harlow Town Station, Water Lane, restricting traffic along most main roads by making half the width of many current roads cycle tracks and others restricted to residents and public transport. Meanwhile the Harlow now needs to expand to absorb hggt Gilston and the Epping Developments and become and unitary authority. It's the only way Harlow can survive financially and environmentally a retain the character and vision that was in the basic design by Sir Fred. We need political parties that will stand up for Harlow not coalition of East Herts, Epping, Essex,.Herts and government Conservatives who have sold both the gullible current and previous Harlow administrations a pig in a poke.
Michael Hardware
2022-05-30 08:51:40
To yet again correct you Mr Taylor, it is not Epping’s fault its local plan has taken so long, it is because of finding solutions to environmental protection around the forest with Natural England. One of the two original inspectors then went on maternity leave before she could complete the final report so another was appointed. Readers will remember, it was the Labour Harlow council which supported the Epping local plan, the Conservatives opposed it at every stage. We also objected as well as commented at the last consultation, when we were then in power. There is no further consultations on the local plan, the next stage will be the master planning when residents will be able to give their views again, but on more if the detail.
Nicholas Taylor
2022-05-30 10:58:04
Your response to my post Cllr Hardware demonstrates quite clearly why politicians like yourself are completely out of touch with your constituents and are hell bent on destroying the countryside. What you are saying is that your Government sets targets for the number of homes that should be built in an area, which I would point out are wholly wrong in the first place and THEN Councils have to try and take action to mitigate the consequences. We bemoan other Countries for destroying rain forests but when it suits you here, well never mind. All the work being done to mitigate the comments made by Natural England take no account of what is being built elsewhere, for example, if all the homes planned in Harlow come to fruition there will be over 5000 more homes than required of the Governments target. As for "opposing the development at ever stage" well in the words of one of you colleagues said of me recently, that is a lie. Your Party were no-where to be seen at the public hearings held at Epping Forest DC and you comments made to the most recent consultation were so weak and of course were three years to late. Perhaps you will tell readers whether Councillors and or Officers from Harlow Council have met with those at Epping Forest DC to voice HDC's opposition to the plan to build on Harlow's Green Belt and if so were they formal meetings and recorded in writing?
Rod Butler
2022-05-30 16:32:19
This government's 'green' Britain is not going to happen. Our fields and countryside are being covered in tarmac, solar panels and concrete, quicker than you can read this. Housebuilding cannot keep up with the explosion of immigration that we have witnessed during the last decade and no MP is prepared to stand up and do something about it. Any quality of life that we now have is disappearing year by year. If you want to make a difference go to your Council meetings to make your voice heard and join a local political party which represents your views.
Mr. David morton
2022-05-30 16:33:52
This is no surprise at all, the country is run by crooked politicians, you can have what you want pending on the amount of cash that's shoved in an envelope under the table!! This town is finished, the violent crime rate has increased, we have all the dregs of life that know one wants being housed here, all the new trees being planted have been vandalised, the town is shit.
Kim Oconnor
2022-05-31 08:30:19
Michael Hardware all you do is pass the buck. You and your colleagues have no intentions of savings our green belt. This is what happens when you join other councils, you all have to follow like little sheep , till you all agree . THE RIVER STORT VALLEY, IS PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS. We are no longer a local council for local people. You were handed 6,000 signatures against the destruction of the river stort, you all ignored public opinions. Your consultation s, on housing developments, I was told ,, we are not hear to discuss the river,,, Why?.?. When the destruction is to connect all theses thousands of unaffordable homes. Its a joke. You have 5000 people on waiting list for homes. Your response to my comment on housing was, WELL PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM.haha My response to your comment was yes people from out side Harlow, not people on waiting list, this is bringing more traffic and more an more pollution to our town, and if people waiting for homes, we're buying your unaffordable houses, you Mr Hardware would no longer have a waiting list. You all have a very limited view on people s needs in Harlow. You have no interest in public options. Because your only interest is profits and greed. REMEMBER YOU CARNT PLANT AN OLD TREE IN A NEW PLACE. REMEMBER THERES GOOD REASON S THESES WET LANDS WERE NEVER BUILT ON. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
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