Object

Representation ID: 8048

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Hilary Ashby

out of BBC ‘s preferred Options 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, my preference is 2c.

I object large scale development in Wilstead following reasons:

Wilstead is a rural community and as such it is vital that it keeps its green spaces, strategic gaps and important views of the countryside from all angles of the village. It is important to keep Wilstead’s unique identity.

In Wilstead we are lucky enough to have wide variety of mammals and birds whose habitat will be threatened by development. I mention, in particular, barn owls, which are known to nest in the barns at Village Farm.
A draft Neighbourhood Plan has been put together for village on which there has been 2
consultations with residents. 90% do not want any more large-scale developments in the village.

There are around 1000 dwellings in Wilstead. We have already had to accept 105 new houses which is an increase of over 10%. Any further large-scale development would alter the character of the village and overwhelm local facilities.

Any substantial development would consist of estate-type housing which would be out of character with the rural, mixed-style and mixed age of the current houses in the village.

Wilstead is a village consisting of ribbon development. Any further development at its ‘ends’ would mean people having to get in their cars to access the centre of the village thus having an environmental impact. Adding to this, the infrequent bus service only covers part of the village with the route being more than 800m from most residents. Existing roads would also be swamped with an increase in traffic particularly at the start and end of the school day. Therefore, it would seem more logical for BBC to consider urban development in the town centre which would be much less environmentally damaging than expansion and development of villages.

Development at Wixams is still on-going therefore there is no need for more housing estates in Wilstead. There must be a gap between Wilstead and Wixams to avoid coalescence as well as between Wilstead, Elstow and Cotton End to preserve their separate identities.
Wilstead should not be designated as a Key Service Centre as there is insufficient infrastructure to support large scale development. Wilstead and Wixams are both included in the draft local plan as Key Service Centres. Nowhere else in the Borough are 2 Key Service Centres located next to one another.
The existing drainage ditches cannot cope now never mind the additional strain new developments would put on the current drainage. With insurers becoming more reluctant to insure houses liable to flooding and charging exorbitant premiums, would these new houses sell?

Finally, why is there no new development proposed in the north of the Borough where it is proposed to locate the East West Rail route?