ECO-CON

I unreservedly believe that that attaching the prefix 'Eco' to government planning initiatives is a complete and utter confidence trick.  We all understand the need to address global warming, properly conserving energy and the the discipline of re-cycling waste. However, in the midst of the proposal to build a so called eco-town in Elsenham/Henham, we find that we have in Henham perhaps one of the most advanced eco-friendly houses in the country.  This house was built at approximately 75% above the cost of what an average similar sized house.  How is it possible that our government could believe their own spin and that of developers that an eco-town, and in particular the proportion of low cost affordable housing, is in any way financially viable?  This is just an excuse to appropriate nearly a square mile of prime arable land for building houses close to Stansted Airport; land which has contributed to feeding this country for well over a thousand years and is more than ever needed now.  It is nothing less than vandalism of our countryside on a huge scale. How can it in any way can the proposal be contributing to making our planet a better place?

Politics Today On TV
This coming Sunday at 12.20pm on BBC 1 (East) TV.  Petrina Lees of Elsenham spent the day filming with the BBC talking to them on the subject of Eco-Towns.

also

Public Meetings
- have been arranged for 2nd June 7.00pm at Henham and 8.00pm at Elsenham. Keynote speaker Grant Chapps, Shadow Minister for Housing, then the topic will be 'How to respond to the consultation'.  More details to follow, particularly of other hopeful guest speakers.

also

Joint Parishes Steering Group
The next Meeting of the Joint Parishes Steering Group will be held on Thursday 22nd May 2008  7.00pm - Elsenham Memorial Hall Agenda

Saturday 21st June
7.30pm for 8.00pm
at Elsenham Village Hall
£8 per ticket - Payable at the door

Food provided but bring your own drink please.

Tables of 8 - please book through Petrina on 816675 or Jennifer on 814434

E-Petition

Please visit the on-line petition to 10 Downing Street, viz:-

'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Abandon plans to build an Eco Town in Elsenham & Henham.'

which you can find by going to:-

 Abandon plans to build an Eco Town in Elsenham & Henham

Please forward this to all your friends and family so they can sign up as well

There was a good turnout of Elsenham and Henham residents who filled the public seating in the main chamber, the gallery and an over-spill into the annex.  The reason was to hear items 13 and 14 on the Agenda.

However, prior to the meeting starting, John Savident, a resident of Henham gave an impassioned speech surrounding the paradox that the Conservatives were tabling a motion that the council was totally against the concept of an Eco-town in Elsenham and Henham yet still supported Option 4 in the same location.  He urged that the council consider that as a result of the consultation there was ample evidence to now abandon Option 4 and work with their electorate to prevent the Eco-town development.  He stated that if they did so, the allegations of hypocrisy and duplicity would 'magically disappear'. He received a rousing ovation from attending residents which apparently is not 'good form' for a council meeting.  A copy of John's speech can be viewed by clicking here. Also read what the Herts and Essex Observer has to say by clicking here and going to page 9. (click once on the page to zoom in)

There then followed a number of questions and observations from Councillors and in particular from Councillor Morson who wished to know when Uttlesford were first aware of a bid by Fairfield to build an Eco-town in Elsenham/Henham, especially in the light of a document called Land North-East of Elsenham - Eco-town and Expression of Interest, dated October 2007.  It had apparently been lodged with the council in October/November 2007.  He particularly asked Councillor Barker when she had first become aware of it and she replied that she was not aware of it until 'this evening'.

Councillor Alan Dean asked about the selection of Option 4 being the subject of Judicial Revue and Councillor Ketteridge, the leader of the Conservative majority, responded that an application had been made to a judge and that at this time there was no Judicial Revue.

Following the formal opening of the meeting Councillor Catherine Dean, the Chairman of the meeting moved quickly to Item 13 on the agenda. which was in the hands of Mr. John Mitchell, the Acting Ch. Exec. and Chief Planning Officer, viz. -

Both meetings were very well attended.  They were both chaired by Nick Baker, the chairman of the Joint Parishes Steering Group.  Although the agendas were the same at both, owing to overlapping engagements the speakers in some instances differed.

At the Henham meeting, Cllr. Morson spoke about the Government proposal for Eco-towns and stated that we were currently in yet another consultation period which would end on 30th June.  This would be followed by a 'Sustainability Appraisal' from July to October and a decision on the final 10 proposals somewhere between November and February.  As yet it is still unclear whether Uttlesford would still have to build 4,200 houses in addition to the 5000 proposed in the Eco-town.  He stated that of the 5000, 1800 would be 'affordable' homes and that 60% on people living in the town would supposedly be employed locally.

David's speech contained many point included in his latest newsletter which can be seen by clicking here.  Cllr. Alan Dean spoke at the Elsenham meeting whilst covering many of the points made by David, he stated the Lib Dems were going to move an amendment at the full U.D.C. Council Meeting on 22nd April (see above) to Susan Barker's motion which related to the dropping of option 4.  He also talked about the fact that vVarying opinions have been expressed about whether central government’s proposal for a 5-8,000 homes (or more) eco-town at North East Elsenham would be additional to existing housing targets. Since the meeting he has submitted a paper which fully explains his views.  Click here to view.

Ray Gooding, our Essex County Councillor stated that E.C.C.  were totally opposed to Eco-towns as well as a second runway at Stansted.  He believed that whilst BAA were denying it, the two proposals were inextricably linked, particularly in relation to the alleged additional 13,000 jobs the new runway would support.  He questioned the Government logic of supporting a highly polluting airport expansion whilst next door also supporting a  supposed zero carbon building project.

Don Sturgeon (Henham) and Petrina Lees (Elsenham) spoke about the work of the J.P.S.G. and that we were still fighting on two fronts, option 4 and the Eco-town proposal.  In relation to the Eco-town and how we can best fight our corner the  were working hard to seek the best planning and legal advice and on our own research to see how we can best fight this new campaign.  Until we know more both Don and Petrina asked that residents initially do nothing.  This was much the same advice given in the early days of fighting option 4.  At the earliest possible moment we would call another meeting to advise residents on how best they can help.

At both meetings Don urged residents to donate as much money as they could to the fighting fund.  He stressed that to get the best planning and legal advice for the Eco-town campaign we would have to find a lot more money.  (Please see the fund raising page on how you can donate).  Don praised the efforts of people so far and gave advance notice of a fund raising Rally Rounders Tournament to be held on Sunday 1st June at Woodend Green. Click here to see full details.

At both meetings Nick took questions from the floor.  Many good suggestions were made and he promised that they would be followed up.

On Thursday 3rd April we were devastated to hear that the land to the north-east of Elsenham (most of which is in the Parish of Henham) had been put on a short list of 15 locations to be developed into Eco Towns (click here to view). The scale of the proposed development is far beyond what was envisaged by Option 4.  Later on this year the list will be reduced to a final list of ten. 

The announcement was made by Caroline Flint, the Minister for Housing and Planning.  The Department of Communities and Local Government have published a document called 'Eco- Towns, Living a Greener Future' which may be viewed by clicking on the picture.

The Joint Parish Council Steering Group met on Thursday 10th April when the matter was high on the agenda.  We will be holding public meetings on Wednesday 16th April (see above for times, etc.) Clearly, we are now fighting on two fronts.  The application for the Eco-Town is based on the U.D.C's preferred Option 4.  However at a press call on Friday 4th April at Elsenham station car park (which overlooks the blighted landscape), Uttlesford Conservative Councillors turned out in force together with our MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst, to state their total opposition to an Eco-Town in Uttlesford.  How can they U.D.C. Councillors still be in favour of their preferred Option 4 whilst being against an Eco-Town in the same place? 

A little while ago, Fairfield Partnership supplied a 44 page document called 'Elsenham - A Strategic Master Plan Vision (dated January 2008) to Parish Councils. I have received permission from them to reproduce it on this site with a reminder that all diagrams maps etc are subject to copy write and must not be reproduced without permission.  This is the basis of their submission to the Government.  Click on the picture to view it.

I have now completed my third complete trawl through the Limehouse data base of Henham representations.  The Planning Department are still very slow in adding your objections.  To date, only about a fifth of Henham's 532 letters have been put on the system. Where I feel that your objections have not been properly stated I have been asking the planning department to review their entries. Chris Bush in Elsenham is doing the same for the copies of letters he has received and other representations as well

However, we need you to check your entries as well.  Please click here to go to Limehouse. When you get there, click on the 'Search' button on the menu and enter your surname in the Search field.  You may find that either you have not been registered yet, you have been registered but no comments have been added, or your representations have been added. 

If you are not happy with how your views have been represented, please let the Planning Policy Team at Uttlesford know at planning@uttlesford.gov.uk  and if you so wish, copy your complaint to us at saveourvillage@live.co.uk.

Update on 14th May from Melanie Jones of the Planning Department