Green News For

October 2010

Plan to double housing numbers in Rivenhall Parish - 2 consultations show overwhelming public opposition - but plan is forced through at BDC September meetings For several years, local Green Party district councillors James Abbott and Philip Hughes have been battling the administration at Council (BDC) to prevent an unprecedented increase in the housing numbers in Rivenhall. The Rivenhall “Growth Location” in BDC's Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy would see at least 300 houses built on farmland and part of the golf course off Forest Road/Rectory Lane. Although the landowner is currently discussing 300 houses with BDC, documents have revealed he has proposed far more than that and wants to start building much sooner than BDC have indicated. Consultations and meetings have shown that the great majority of local residents in both Rivenhall and north are opposed to the Growth Location:

 An early consultation by BDC showed that over 70% of residents opposed the plans  The Witham Local Committee of District Councillors voted twice to delete the Rivenhall site  During the summer a second BDC consultation produced hundreds of formal written objections from residents in Rivenhall and north Witham  Both Witham Town Council and Rivenhall Parish Council sent in formal objections and also recommended that known, viable alternative development strategies be followed  A packed meeting at Forest Road Community centre saw residents again oppose the plans  A further consultation by local councillors James Abbott and Bob Wright resulted in 94% of Rivenhall residents and 99.5% of north Witham residents who took part opposing the plans Yet despite this overwhelming and consistent opposition from the local community, a small group of Conservative Councillors on BDC have forced through the plans. At a packed meeting of the LDF Panel on 22nd September, they again ignored local people and this time were joined by the 2 Labour councillors on the Panel – who all voted to recommend that the 300 houses go ahead. The plans will now go to an inquiry hearing. Councillor James Abbott said “Despite the clear view of local people that this site should be withdrawn, the Council has decided to force through a doubling of the housing numbers in Rivenhall. No other rural community in the district is being treated in this way. What has happened to the promised 'Big Society' and 'new era of local decision making' ?” Your Green Party Councillors pledge to continue to use every available opportunity to get the Rivenhall Growth Location removed from the LDF. Thank you to all those who voted Green in Rivenhall at the General Election in May ______Who is responsible for BDC's The more we can recycle, the less waste there is Community Halls Policy ? to feed the huge waste factories proposed by County Council. Its not just the Conservatives. The Labour Leader and Deputy Leader on Braintree District Council We must prevent the building of the incinerator sat on the committee that wrote the new halls planned for Rivenhall Airfield. As well as policy and agreed huge fee increases. drawing in hundreds of 40 tonne waste trucks every day to this area, the incinerator would Following a campaign by local groups and burn around 1,000 tonnes of waste per day – District Councillors James Abbott and Phil sending valuable resources up in smoke and Hughes, the fee increase has been capped. lowering air quality for Rivenhall residents.” ______th On September 27 , Cllr. Abbott presented a Greens Support Road Safety petition of 836 names to the Full Council meeting of BDC, calling on the authority to Green Councillors in Rivenhall have always rethink its halls policy. supported improved road and path safety and have: But as with the Growth Location, public opinion does not seem to count much with the current  Continued to campaign for lower speed administration of BDC. The threat of closure of limits between the villages; halls still looms large. Both Forest Road  Regularly reported road and path Community Centre and Silver End Village Hall – maintenance issues to the authorities and the largest in – could be closed by BDC in liaised with the local police on road safety; the spring according to the Conservative Cabinet Member in charge of halls.  Fought off several planning applications ______which would have increased HGV Recycling Success movements along Oak Road; Recycling of household waste in Braintree District  Worked with all the authorities to help has now reached 55% - and is still heading secure future improvements to the upwards - thanks to support from residents. dangerous junctions on the A12 at and to ensure that when this With council budgets facing a big squeeze over work is done, safety barriers will be the next few years, it is essential that whilst installed. sensible savings are made, front line community services such as recycling are maintained and Yet a recent leaflet produced by Labour claimed enhanced. that “Greens threaten safety”. Green Councillors will oppose moves to cut recycling – and have already helped to prevent This is completely false and made-up by cuts to winter green waste collections. Labour. Green Councillors have never, and will never, compromise on road safety. Councillor James Abbott said “We believe that by 2020, at least 70% of It looks instead as if the Dirty Tricks Machine at household waste should be recycled or Labour Hall in Witham has been cranked into gear composted. This will save resources and energy, again... there must be an election next year ! as well as reducing the costs of landfill which council tax payers would otherwise face.

To contact your local District Councillors, please telephone 01376 584576

For more news on what your local Green Councillors are doing to help local communities, please visit www.witham-braintree.greenparty.org.uk Printed on recycled paper by KempCo Ltd., 27 The Newlands, Witham CM8 2AP Published by Philip Hughes on behalf of Witham & Braintree Green Party, 163 Honeysuckle Way, Witham CM8 2YD