Save Jotman's Farm
From: Ian Harding
Subject: Jotmans Farm
Date: 31 December 2012:
I am opposed to building on any green belt land in Castle Point. We are the second most densely populated borough in Essex. Our infrastructure is at breaking point. The Sewage Farm cannot cope and recently 'dumped' tanks of human waste into the streams at Richmond Park to prevent it backing up in residents houses!! The roads are regularly gridlocked. The doctors surgeries are oversubscribed and there are not enough places in local schools. We need to create retirement communities which encourage people to 'downsize' and free up 3 and 4 bedroom houses to cope with our real LOCAL need. The parasitic developments being imposed on us by developers with the support of the government via The New Homes Bonus bribe to councils, is to provide houses for the people being displaced from London as it grows to attract affluent foreign investors, NOT for our local need. Be under no illusion, this is all driven by money and the clearing out of London. Our local community will not benefit from this as we become even more overcrowded and see an increase in the anti-social behaviour that accompanies too many people living on top of each other, with no jobs and limited local resources. THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO STOP THIS BEING FORCED UPON US. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!!
From Paul Spagnol
Subject: building on jotmans will change benfleet for the worst
1st Jan 2013
we have only lived in benfleet for some years when we looked in this area we knew this was the place to live ,quiet friendly and safe . we are originally from bethnal green I loved it there but it became over populated and crime riddled and not a very nice and safe place to live so we moved to east ham the same thing happened there over ,populated the streets were run by gangs and not a nice and safe place to live..we then moved to dagenham ,you have guessed it over populated and not a nice or safe place to live ..now we are in benfleet and it seems that they want to do the same things here . if you have lived in any of the above places you will know what I mean, if not have a look at there local papers on the internet and you will see what you have instore for the future this dose not include all the other things that we will loose .. this is not just the council building a couple of homes for the local people this is building on our greenbelt and importing people from London and other places so be warned do nothing and you will regret it or stand up for our greenbelt and our way off life .....
What you have said.
Comments received and published below are comments from the sender and do not necessarily represent the views of the SAVE JOTMAN'S FARM GROUP
From Rob Scriven
Subject: recent closure of benfleet,canvey road
1st Jan 2013
With the latest road closure from canvey,we all know the dire effect this had on our road net work. This has proved to every one that continued increase in traffic due to more housing can not be tollerated in this area
From Hilary and Stephen Cooke
Subject: Jotmans Farm
1st Jan 2013
We are totally against building on green belt, and support the save our green belt campaigns. We are already seeing an increase in crime related incidents. If we are to see our green belt, built on to accommodate the need for social housing for people from the London Boroughs it will only get worse. We need the green belt for future generations.
From Brian Hammond
Subject: Jotmans Farm Proposed Development
1st Jan 2013
It is my belief that the development of green belt land should never be considered unless every other option has been explored. The current position would appear to be that the first option would be to allow the development of green belt land without even the slightest consideration to alternatives. The problem I have at the moment is why are these developments even being considered when there is no apparent need for them. The reasoning I have to back this statement up is the following: -
a) Currently there are 1200 empty dwellings in Castle Point; my question to this would be: - why are these not being looked at?
b) Existing residential dwellings for sale in Castle Point; you only have to look on Rightmove to see that there are around 1000, if these are not selling why we need more dwellings up for sale.
c) Until these 2 issues have been addressed new developments should not be allowed to get passed the feasibility stage.
I also believe that there has been a great deal of basic infrastructure capacity issues overlooked. I was informed by the Persimmon representative at their presentation that the Castle Point council had written to Persimmon stating that there was sufficient capacity in all areas of utility, traffic, healthcare and education within the local area. This is clearly not the case as the utility infrastructure is some 70 years old and cannot cope with the current demand let alone another 250 dwellings. There have been reports in the local press with regard to sewage problems; doctor’s surgeries are over prescribed etc. The traffic is already a major problem at the junction between Jotman’s Lane and the High Road (Cemetery Corner) if you look at the safety barriers they are constantly being hit and are currently damaged. This problem would become worse and serious accidents would become common not only at the junction but also in the roads leading into the proposed development. I would ask every resident that visits this site and reads these comments to support the fight to protect the green belt in this area, there will not be a second chance once the land has gone that’s it!!!!
From : Sue Buhr
1st Jan 2013
The time has come to all stand together and fight these's developers without a united front nothing will be achieved
From Dave Cowan
Subject: Farm land must stay
1st Jan 2013
Having lived close to Jotmans Farm all my life I would like to point out the importance of retaining the farm as viable grazing. As a child the farm (then known as Howards Farm) was a thriving dairy farm. On some of the fields beef cattle were also raised. Although for many years it has been mainly used as a riding stables and grazing for horses it still retains all that is needed to raise animals for food and/or milk production, ie good quality grazing land. With the increase in population both in the UK and overseas it will become more necessary to produce our own food. This also reduces the carbon footprint of imported meat and milk. Jotmans farm is not just green belt and must be protected, it may well be vital farming land in the future which once built on can never be returned to farming. Is this not more important to retain than some of our scrub and semi woodland, that may be good for wildlife but otherwise totally unproductive.
From Brian Wilson
Subject: Jotman's Farm
!st Jan 2013
Whatever the right number of new houses is for Castle Point, building on useful and well established arable land is not the answer. When it's gone, it's gone forever.
Site updated 7th Feb 2014