In trying to promote the local campaign against the development of 3000 new homes in Elsenham, Essex (where I live) I thought I would publish the email that I sent to the District Council.

“To whom it way concern,

As a local resident of Elsenham, I am writing to you to object to the recent Option 4 proposal by Uttlesford District Council for the development of 3000 new homes in Elsenham and Henham.

I object wholeheartedly to Option 4 for the following reasons:

• I have been a resident of Elsenham for over 20 years (I am now 29 years old) and have enjoyed being brought up in a countryside setting. If I wanted to live in a town/city I would move to London, but I don’t. Creating 3000 new houses will change the village atmosphere and the surrounding physical environment into something not disimilar to Harlow, i.e. a concrete jungle.
• The existing rail link to London (which I use everyday) is already run at capacity, with overcrowding and delays, adding more potential passengers through the development of Elsenham will only make the situation worse. The is no room for the expansion of the station, which at present is already inadequate.
• There is already a problem with commuters parking their cars and blocking the roads in Elsenham. An increase in commuters will only make the situation worse.
• The historic nature of the area will be completely detroyed.
• Local employment through development would most likely be in construction, and the service sector, thus not adding “career” prospects to the area, but more likely low-skilled, uninspiring jobs.
• Elsenham primary school is far too small to cope with such an increase in pupils.
• I am outraged that the local residents weren’t consulted during the proposal stages of this consultation, rather only after it was proposed by a member of the Council who doesn’t even live here.
• It would make more sense to spread the developments out amongst the villages, so that no one settlement is overwealmed and the so-called “benefits” can be enjoyed by all.
• Is the motivation behind the development focused on Elsenham in the interests of the people that live here, or moreso those of the District Council who will receive financial “perks” to concentrate development in once place rather than decentralising it.
• I feel as if my right to protect the local area where I live and my own neighbourhood has been taken away from me.
• What do the District Council actually mean by “affordable housing”? Most of the recent developments in Bishops Stortford have been branded as “affordable” yet these developments are out of the reach of many first time buyers such as myself.

In conclusion it would be nice to think that these comments and those of other local residents will actually make a difference in opposing the development in Elsenham and Henham, but more than likely the nimby (not in my back yard) attitude of a District Council, and ill thought out planning strategy will mean that our opinions will fall on deft ears and our villages will be destroyed forever.

Regards

Ben Ellis”