ELSENHAM: Eco-town opposition mounts

10:54am Monday 14th July 2008

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COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have a launched a stinging attack onproposals to build an ‘eco-town’ at Elsenham. Campaign to Protect Rural Essex has strongly condemned the way the plan has been presented and said it will be forced on the local community and not part of a local development framework or regional spatial strategy.

CPREssex fear local objections and suggestions will be ignored and are calling for a public examination of the Government proposals.

CPREssex has identified six major issues which should be discussed in more detail – landscape impact, services, accessibility, water supply, agricultural land quality and eco principles.

Part of the site is designated for conservation and any large-scale development would have a serious impact on local villages, including Henham. It is a highly visible site with no natural boundaries to prevent further expansion.

There would have to be a huge investment in infrastructure and services and even then it is doubtful whether the town could be self-contained. Residents would still have to look elsewhere for employment, retail or leisure facilities. That would increase the dependence on private cars, yet there are not convenient access points to the M11 or the A120.

Spokesman David Williams said: “So a part of Essex already swamped by traffic would be facing the prospect of even more vehicles on narrow country lanes and major trunk routes. It’s a nightmare scenario when the main purpose of the ‘eco-towns’ is to reduce the carbon footprint! “Water shortages have always been a concern for CPREssex and the Elsenham plan can only make matters worse in a part of the county which is likely to face problems in the years ahead.”

He added: “The prospect of agricultural land of Grade II quality being lost to new homes and roads should concern everyone who believes Essex is already threatened with massive over-development. “Eco-principles are fine - but the plans for an eco-town at Elsenham do little to promote sound environmentally-friendly issues.