Tag Archives: SERCLE

Uttlesford and Braintree Local Plans: update 14/7/16

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Update: 14th July, public meeting for SERCLE

A public meeting has been arranged for SERCLE supporters next Thursday 21st July between 7-9pm at Stebbing Friends Meeting Hall, Stebbing High Street. This is to give everyone the opportunity to find out more about the current campaign strategy. 

Sercle has also produced a flier, which can be downloaded here.

Original news item:

Your Parish Council continues to maintain awareness of, and involvement in, the Local Plan processes in Uttlesford, Chelmsford and Braintree.

Whilst the Uttlesford Plan remains our prime focus, there are issues and developments with neighbouring plans which impact the Parish of Felsted.

The Braintree Plan has entered its ‘Preferred Options’ phase, some weeks ahead of Uttlesford.

This includes a proposal for a New Town (referred to as a ‘Garden Community’) just to the north of Felsted. The potential size of this is indicated in the plan: starting at 2,500 houses, and ultimately up to 13,000 houses. Whilst the main area is within Braintree District, it also includes a significant development area within Uttlesford. Included in the ‘Area of Search’ for the New Town location is Gransmore Green, Felsted.

The potential impact on the Parish of Felsted from such a development would be massive. Alongside the impact from the physical presence of a New Town, dwarfing Felsted in size, there is the impact on roads, utilities, and services, to consider. Whilst there are plans to deliver these needs within the New Town development, the harsh reality of past developments is that facilities have followed long after the houses; in the interim local communities feel the impact. It is also likely that the village of Felsted would become a ‘rat run’ to Chelmsford for the development. 

The Braintree Local Plan website is here . There are a number of public meetings to explain their plan. The feedback page for the current consultation is here. This process closes on 19th August.

A residents group, centred around Stebbing, has been set up. Whilst Felsted Parish Council has no official relationship with this group, we are pleased to share their details with Felsted residents, who may like to get in direct contact with the group:

SERCLE (Stop the Erosion of Rural Communities in Local Essex) is a resident-driven campaign whose aims are to:

  • Make residents aware of the development
  • Garner support for the campaign and give residents a voice
  • Identify relevant (legal/compliance based) arguments opposing the development
  • Make our voice heard as BDC and UDC perceive there may be no objection

The campaign has:

 

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