Object

Representation ID: 10411

Received: 14/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Matthew Hill

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

POLICY EMP6 Business Park, Land at Water End and St Neots Road

I would like to convey my objections to this proposed Business Park for the following reasons -

• In the local plan document it already has a large number of allocations proposed for employment use. Would we not be in danger of allowing such a huge development to begin as a campus style site, tree lined low level type buildings at the outset (which is what we are being sold right now as the potential development) and then after construction realising too late that it was not being utilised to its full potential. What if the council then found itself faced with empty buildings, and then for fear of not receiving sufficient revenue, allowing an Amazon scale mega warehouse type site development. How devastating that would be for the impact on the landscape, the wildlife, devastation of a rural village and decimation of very high quality agricultural land. What cast iron protection would the local residents be given to this catastrophe ever being allowed to un-fold?

• The level of information provided upon which we are being asked to make any comments on is woefully short of any substance. The criteria is insufficiently defined to allow for any significant level of scrutiny by any household in Renhold and I am bitterly disappointed by the approach the council is taking in this regard.

• The landowner himself is talking in terms of 'when' the development will commence instead of using more appropriate terminology as 'if the development will get the go-ahead. It leaves me feeling that my voice doesn't matter and has no consequence in relation to such developments as this policy EMP6 Business Park suggests. It should, and must, be taken very seriously and be scrutinised in the tiniest degree and not to let the local residents feel that our democratic view doesn't count, because it absolutely does!

• The degree at this level of development is mind boggling. I will remind you that you are proposing to consider a location that is at the end of a rural village. I just cannot fathom how anyone would consider this to be appropriate.

• The noise pollution for all those residents who would be living next door to this would be absolutely horrendous.

• Renhold village parish council has for many, many years been seeking to reduce the already heavy traffic levels on our local roads since the construction of the A421 by-pass that basically turned Renhold village into a cut through route into Bedford. If you allowed this large employment site to proceed you will effectively be allowing the demise of the village. There aren't any mitigating factors you could conceivably implement that would alleviate that in any discernible way.


Please do take my concerns very seriously and consider the dire consequences should you dare to consider this huge scale development be allowed to proceed.