9:37am Friday 19th December 2008
By Emily Roberts
MORE than 200 sites have been nominated for housing development, without the land owners even realising.
Places such as Copped Hall and Stonards Hill in Epping and The Royal Gunpowder Mills in Waltham Abbey have been put forward by local residents, landowners and developers as potential sites for housing.
The list will help the district council formulate plans to accommodate around 3,500 new homes and gypsy and traveller sites, allocated by the Government under the East of England Plan.
But many people using the sites were horrified to hear the news.
Colin Pridige, General Manager of the Metropolitan Police Chigwell Sports Club, found out the land was on the list from the Guardian.
He said: "Is this some sort of joke? This is owned by the police authority and we have a lease on the land for 20 years. This is the first I've heard that we've been nominated. I definitely don't think it's a suitable site and whoever suggested it must be out of their mind. I don't see how they could say that. It's used for charity functions and community events."
First team manager for Epping Football Club Lee Ward was disappointed to find out Stonards Hill was on the list.
He said: "Stonards Hill has a massive potential to be a huge football site in the local area, and with the history of the club it deserves a bit of backing. But realistically, you are looking at driving the football club out of existence and throwing all that history down the drain if Stonards Hill is used for houses. We would struggle to find anywhere else to play. Perhaps people don't realise Stonards Hill is used by us but it wouldn't surprise me if the council decided to use it for development."
The 'Call for Sites' list is the first step for the council in identifying potential land for new development.
Although the list has been made public, the council has stressed that being on it does not indicate support by councillors.
Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder Councillor Anne Grigg said: "Some residents asked us if they could see the provisional list so we have made it available on the website. However, it is still incomplete and unevaluated. Some of the suggestions will not be viable."
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