Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Development Plan Document (DPD)

I think the often competing desires to protect certain areas have been listened to and considerable effort put into getting as much evidence as possible as to the best way forward. I think this plan will work well in protecting the Salary Brook area and avoiding the development spreading into Elmstead or Wivenhoe. Planting of buffer zones with woodland would certainly help there alongside, of course, being a positive move for the climate.

In the absence of a church building, I would ask that consideration is given to how community spaces and buildings are suitable and available for faith groups to meet. Consideration also needs to be given to burial spaces alongside spaces where ashes may be interred or scattered - quiet spaces where residents may go to mourn.

Very important that affordable housing ambitions are met and the need locally, particularly for lost cost rental properties, is met.

Community infrastructure is so essential into the formation of communities rather than simply a housing development. For this timing - earlier rather than later - is essential. Surrounding communities are already under pressure for school places, GPs etc so these need to be put in place for the new community straight away.

I think the money set aside for the RTS scheme should be used to complete the link road. In the interim, current bus services can be extended to cover some of what the RTS would offer - note current bus services are able to bypass Clingoe Hill by going through the university - a route banned for cars. The early days of the RTS scheme would be heavy on subsidy and the money could be used to more effect. The route for the RTS scheme also needs further work too in my opinion in order to maximise its effectiveness - up to date traffic surveys and proper consideration of where it is needed and whether Elmstead and Wivenhoe too could access its services. Doing the link road first would allow time for this work to be done.

Currently the traffic down Clingoe Hill to the roundabout into Colchester is frequently heavily congested. The work to Clingoe Hill for the RTS will be horrendous as sensible alternative routes into Colchester don't exist. It is brilliant that so much work is being considered to reduce the use of cars in the garden community but realistically there will still be a considerable number. Local residents had been promised the link road to the A120 would be completed before the building commenced and this is no longer the case. Without this link road I cannot see how the plan can work.

Absolutely essential that this new community is built to the highest eco standards. I trust that gas will not be connected to the site as this would be short sighted.