Object

Representation ID: 9797

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Timothy Harris

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

The EMP5 proposal is totally inappropriate to the historically important village of Elstow. This is a rural village with unique links to John Bunyan Bedfords’s most famous son and
One of the most significant abbeys in the region dating back 10 centuries. For it to remain a place that national and international tourists feel sade and inclined to visit, the move towards urbanisation and industrialisation must cease.
There needs to be clear separation between Elstow village with its listed buildings, historic buildings and green spaces and suburban Bedford.
In particular the height of industrial buildings will impact on the skyline and horizons will be overshadowed from the west curtailing evening light to the village and dominating the skyline in an overbearing presence. Additionally light associated with the workings of any industrial units will affect negatively the dark skies at the Southern half of the village. This is an intangible quality which cannot be restored once taken away.
The linear character of Elstow village, becoming more sparsely populated as one progresses south down the former coaching route would be disrupted by plonking industrial units down there.
Not least would be the damage to wildlife which enjoys a green corridor, essential for uninterrupted transit of wildlife birds and mammals, down the old rural road.
Not to mention the loss of Grade 2 agricultural land. In future decades we need to respect the requirement for food security within our national borders post Brexit. Bedford, England UK cannot lose more good quality effective crop growing land
The impact of noise and disruption during construction and operation of any industrial site will have an unnecessary and severe impact on residents of Elstow who already suffer transport disruption on nearby link roads.
There is significant doubt over the need for this industrial employment site. There is already massive provision next to other main roads nearby and these are by no means full.
The economic argument for the growth of the supposed Oxford to Cambridge Arc is weak and floundering as recognised even by the current government. Post Brext Post pandemic work life is markedly different to economic models made 10+ years ago. So I can see no requirement for this proposed area being used for employment, especially as it is remote and away from basic facilities and infrastructure. Oftentimes these developments tend to have an adverse effect on power and water supply which is another reason to move away from this proposal.
My family has lived in this part of Bedfordshire for over 200 years and 4 generations of my family have attended Elstow Lower School. We do not want to see the essentially rural nature of the parish of Elstow changed. We want the rural nature to be retained, especially the views of Elstow Abbey
So future generations can live in peace and quiet without this unwanted, unjustified and inappropriate development.