COUNCILLOR Ken Williamson has thanked members of the Epping Society following the presentation of a petition on Tuesday 1 July.

Councillor Ken Williamson, Portfolio Holder for Shaping Our District said: : “I want to reach out and acknowledge the strength of local feeling among some residents.

Epping is by no means exceptional. We are under pressure from both the previous and new governments to build more houses in Epping Forest. There is a national shortage and new housing is being built everywhere, but I also understand the local impact felt by local people when it is in our town or street.

“Councillors are legally bound to follow policy in law for planning applications but I can also assure residents that the sentiments within the petition will always be taken into account when scrutinising development proposals.”

And while I understand many local residents would prefer no new development, in practical terms that isn’t an option. The government has made itself clear. Either councils work with developers or the government will take our local influence away and impose its own planning controls.

Councillor Ken Williamson, Portfolio Holder for Shaping Our District said: “Epping South is one of several large residential development sites in our Local Plan. It was weighed and measured along with many other sites in the examination in public. The council went on to endorse the associated masterplan in March. We can certainly look at new issues but the final decision to include Epping South was taken by the government-appointed inspector and we can’t reopen issues settled at that stage. The government will expect the new development to go ahead.

“Masterplans are one of the council’s ways of trying to encourage better quality planning applications – to ensure the final developments are as good as they can be, for residents moving into new homes and existing residents who will become their new neighbours.

“The other approach is simply for the council not to cooperate. However, the government would definitely intervene in such circumstances. Our planning controls would be taken away and the government would invoke a presumption to grant for planning applications not just in Epping but across the whole district.

“It is an invidious position. As councillors, we want to please our residents, but we also have a responsibility to do what we believe to be in the best interests of our residents.

“Residents can therefore rest assured. So long as we follow the process, masterplans give councillors the best chance of fighting poor planning applications and holding developers to deliver to the highest standards we can achieve.”