Letter published in Clacton and Frinton Gazette ~ 18th August 2016
ON AUGUST 9, more than 300 residents of Holland on Sea attended Tendring Council's planning committee meeting in the town hall, to support Holland Residents Association, and witness the committee discuss the application for 132 houses in the field to the north of Sladbury's Lane.
In June 2015 water from this field flooded six homes in Keswick Avenue and later flooded Sladburys Lane causing access problems for traffic and residents. On June 23 this year, knee-high flooding again blocked Sladbury’s Lane, and turned the bowling club, into a lake.
As a 20-year resident, I was asked to speak against this development and was happy to support Councillor Colin Winfield of the residents association. One Councillor argued our case very well in refusing the proposal to build a new housing estate on green fields.
I was also very happy to see councillors on the planning committee have a full and frank discussion about the many issues surrounding proposals for this outline application for 132 houses, in a very non political way. Cllr. Gray then put forward a motion to refuse the application, and the committee, having given its full consideration, voted to refuse.
Not one committee member voted in favour of the application. This was a clear demonstration of all the elected members identifying the proposal was not appropriate in that location for very many reasons, not least of which was the fact that the land in question has always been zoned green belt in the previous Local Plans, and is not in the Local Plan Preferred Options Document, now out for consultation.
In my working life, I supported the view that social service can bring human beings closer together and promote friendship and affection. I’m now working with Holland Residents Association, as I know the work they do aims to support and benefit all residents.
David Emmerson
Keswick Avenue
Holland on Sea