Writtle Village
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Feb 2018 Writtle Flyer Writtle Parish Council that you can do. The City Council has decided that only responses from this final consultation will go forward Clerk: David Walker Chairman’s Report for further consideration. We believe this is most unfair Assistant Clerk: Lauretta Fox oing back to when and have told them so but it should make us all even records began the village more determined to express our views. G of Writtle has always The facts are as follows. The Parish of Writtle has Parish Office been an important part of Essex. been allocated two sites comprising of 25 houses in The Green In the Domesday Book (1066) the centre of the village sited on land surrounding the Telephone Exchange and 800 new homes on the Writtle the population of the Parish of Writtle is quoted as about 1,000. greenfield site North of the Roxwell Road, now referred Chelmsford, Essex By comparison Chelmsford, to as “Strategic Growth Site 2”. CM1 3DT including Moulsham was under The Local Plan is for 2021-2036 and Strategic Growth 100! Site 2 is scheduled to be one of the first sites started Tel: 01245 420066 How things have changed Chris Hibbitt in 2021. It is planned to have a new primary school Mob: 07483 113534 today. The population of Writtle incorporating a childcare nursery and a neighbourhood has grown to about 5,000 while our neighbouring City centre with a healthcare facility. [email protected] of Chelmsford had a population of nearly 170,000 at The City Council has considered traffic issues www.writtlepc.co.uk the last census. associated to the site and is proposing a masterplan www.facebook.com/ Writtle has had a Parish Council since 1894 and which will maximise opportunities for sustainable travel. This will include household travel plans providing writtleparishcouncil although the councillors have obviously changed, the key objective of the Writtle Parish Council has always alternative forms of transport to the private car. A travel been to manage change and ensure that Writtle Village survey commissioned by the City Council suggests Parish Councillors remains an idyllic village and does not become the that, by adopting Personalised Travel Planning (PTP), Chris Hibbitt (Chairman) western suburb of Chelmsford City. the traffic generated from this site will not significantly Mick Townley (Vice You will recall that your current Parish Council was lead to increased traffic congestion in Writtle and Chairman) horrified to find out that in all three options presented surrounding roads. Ralph Bray in the initial Chelmsford Local Plan, two years ago, Writtle Parish Council objects to this site. Whatever PTP there was a huge housing development planned achieves there will still be major traffic issue relating to Sue Bell in our Parish. Between 2,000 to 3,000 houses to be its location, with traffic from 800 houses entering and Andrew Carter built on a greenfield site, north of the Roxwell Road exiting from a single entrance on the Roxwell Road. Paul Costello (locally known as the sunflower field). When we made The City Council believe we should not be unduly our parishioners aware of this proposal there was Peter Cracknell worried about “urban sprawl” as the site does not join widespread concern and annoyance. Public meetings directly to Writtle Village. However the site is in the Paul Delaney and “drop in” sessions at the Parish Office followed and Parish of Writtle and there will be many important issues Sue Emery everyone was encouraged to send in the consultation including the interface for schooling and healthcare. Louise Gannicott document to express their views. Writtle Parish As you know the Parish Council strongly supports Council became part of the North West Chelmsford Tom Kinloch the concept of a Neighbourhood Plan for Writtle and Action Group (NWCAG) and instead of selecting one is delighted that, under the leadership of Jonathan Tony Sach of the 3 options we objected to all three and urged the Weymouth, the process has started. You can find out Renato Schmid Chelmsford City Council to “think again”. more about this in Jonathan’s article in this edition of the Rosemary Smith Warren Farm, now called Chelmsford Urban West, Writtle Flyer. remained in the next phase of the consultation but with Wendy Walker If we are to manage change in the village, including the the houses reduced to 800. It is interesting to note that potential new housing estate, it is essential we have a when the figures of the consultation were published, strong Neighbourhood Plan team to present the Plan City Councillors the City Council had received over 300 responses from to us all and then to ensure it is accepted by the local Tim Roper Writtle and Broomfield, of which over 250 said no to the planning authorities. Neighbourhood Planning gives Tony Sach Plan. In comparison a larger parish, Danbury sent in local communities the direct power to develop a shared only 57 responses with 34 supporting the Plan. Hardly vision of their neighbourhood. County Councillor surprising as they had been allocated only 100 houses Going back to my opening comment, your Parish and their Neighbourhood Plan Committee would be John Aldridge Council wants Writtle to stay as a village that we all allowed to decide on their exact location. love and enjoy. We now face the third and final stage The future is uncertain and if you support our views of the consultation process which you should do two things. Firstly complete the City began on January 31st and finishes on Council consultation document and let them know your March 14th. Your Parish Council and views on the Local Plan. Secondly get involved in the Writtle the NWCAG will continue to challenge creation of the Writtle Neighbourhood Plan. There are the City Council on the justification so many tasks that need to be undertaken ranging from and suitability of this site. For all of you delivering literature to being involved in what actually Village this will be your last chance to make goes into the Plan. your views known to your City Council. Don’t stand by and let “others” dictate the future of our Please take part in this consultation if village. under you have strong views about the future of the Parish of Writtle. If you completed IF YOU CARE, GET INVOLVED. an earlier consultation document don’t Kind Regards, threat sit back in the belief you have done all Chris Hibbitt, Chair, Writtle Parish Council. CHELMSFORD NEW LOCAL PLAN 2021-2036 even with the ‘Preferred Spatial Option’ mitigation measures, ‘Strategic Growth Area 2 West Chelmsford’ Writtle north of congestion on the key links, in and around Writtle, comprising the A1060 Roxwell Road Chignal Road, A1060 Roxwell Road, Lordship Road and The Final consultation - This is your last chance – send your Green, which already experience congestion, will experience personal response To CCC Planners before 4.45PM on 14th higher levels of congestion and journey-time delay. March • TRAFFIC - Flow is measured as Volume/Capacity Ratio with HOW YOU CAN VIEW THE DRAFT PLAN:- 100% PLUS being “high levels of congestion and journey-time 90% PLUS • At Writtle Library or any local Library. delay” and being “moderate levels of congestion”. PEAK TRAFFIC • On line – www.chelmsford.gov.uk/new-local-plan Page 119 sets • along Chignal Road, A1060 Roxwell Road and 100% out Strategic Growth Area 2 West Chelmsford Map 35 Writtle Lordship Road morning and evening will all increase to PLUS 100% village only - there is no change to the village boundary. Midday peak along Chignal Road would be up to PLUS. • Any problems? CCC Planning Policy Department can also advise - telephone: 01245 606330 • PEAK TRAFFIC THROUGH THE GREEN WRITTLE - Morning would be up to 100% PLUS and evening peak up to 90% PLUS. HOW YOU CAN COMMENT:- Feel free to draw on our responses • Residents in Area 2 Writtle, would probably rat run through Writtle if you wish. • The easiest way to comment is download a paper copy of to access Crossrail at Shenfield. the Form, using Ctrl+Click on this link www.chelmsford.gov.uk/ • ACCESS for all vehicles would have to be taken from the A1060 EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink. Save to your computer, complete it, Roxwell Road. This would see the entirety of the traffic generated save again and post or email it as an attachment to CCC to the by the site loaded onto one point of the highway network which address below. already experiences congestion. • Email your Form or comments to planning.policy@chelmsford. • For the size of development the site would require more than one gov.uk vehicular access. • By post to Planning and Housing Policy, Chelmsford City Council, • There are a number of existing junctions on the A1060 Roxwell Civic Centre Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1JE. Road in the environs of the site, and given that any vehicular • You can also use CCC consultation Portal www.chelmsford.gov. access would need to be located to achieve acceptable junction uk/planningpolicyconsult spacing this could present difficulties in achieving safe access. PEDESTRIANS • This Article will go on the Parish Council web site, all Village • - A 2 km walk, equivalent to a 25 minute web sites, Writtle Voice and Parent Mail, you can use the links pedestrian journey time, offers the greatest potential to replace above to access the documents. car journeys. Access to most amenities falls some way outside that criteria. • The Parish Council will conduct a drop in 10.00am to 12.00am, Saturday 3rd March at the Parish Office with paper • There is a Public Right of Way providing access through Chignal copies available and help with completing the forms.