LETTER: 'Don't build over our well-needed parks'

I am writing with my comments on the draft Local Plan and why I object to the proposals to use the following four sites for housing: (a) Jessel Green, (b) Debden Station car park, (c) Rochford Green – 53 homes, and (d) Borders Lane playing field – 304 homes.

The loss of (a), (c) and (d) will have a negative impact on the well-being of residents, who use these spaces for recreation, including play, sports, local events and dog walking - all of which contribute to positive lifestyles and the community.

These green areas are the equivalent to Loughton as parks are to other towns. It would not be conceivable, for example, to build on Ray Park in Woodford Green nor the Ridgeway Park in Chingford, although it would appear that it would be acceptable for Loughton to lose its ‘parks’.

The proposed blocks of flats would not be in-keeping with the local existing housing, which are all two storeys. We need to learn from the atrocity and over-sized development that has replaced The Winston Churchill and is a blot on the landscape from miles away.

The density proposed would be almost twice that already existing in Loughton, which is already overcrowded.

Jessel Green is unsuitable for housing as it has an underground stream running alongside it, which should not be disturbed.

Parts of the edge of the Green are already subject to flooding and the risk of flooding would be increased.

Increased housing would also cause pollution and the ‘green corridor’ through Loughton, which was created to encourage local wildlife.

Developing (a), (c) and (d) would be detrimental to the local biosphere and involve losing trees that were only planted on Jessel Green in the past couple of years.

Jessel Green is also a long-standing identified spot used by the air ambulance. Reducing the landing area to a small spot at the edge of a housing development on the green would be dangerous.

Fundamentally, there is insufficient infrastructure to support the additional residents in this area. Schools are already at capacity and local GP surgeries are at maximum capacity.

The additional housing proposed would increase the number of commuters using the Central Line by around 3%.

It is not acceptable to agree the Local Plan and hope that infrastructure will follow.

I understand the need for additional affordable housing in the south east of the country, but oppose overdevelopment in the Loughton area.

Finally, I would ask that you take the opportunity to review this application and grant Village Green status to Jessel Green as part of the Local Plan and save this area for the current and future residents of Loughton whom you serve.

Mrs Lesley A Perry
Audley Gardens
Loughton