MM38

To revert the plan to 'no development of Middlewick and to take it off the agenda for ANY development on this site'

The Middlewick Ranges was intended to be just that and is now (unintentionally) the only "green lung' this side of Colchester. It has a very rich flora and fauna biodiversity, provides open spaces for Colchester residents and at the moment the infrastructure is barely capable of supporting the existing high density housing along Mersea Rd, Monkwick Estate, Abbots Rd and Old Heath. The traffic is now very heavy at all times and during rush hours there are traffic jams. Another minimum 1000 dwellings means at least 1500 more cars using these roads.

The area should mostly remain as it is.

In my view, there is no need for "new open space" or "strategic green infrastructure", this is already there. Why change a 'winning team'?
Formal playing pitches will destroy the natural habitat, a 'park' sounds like modification of the area into something rather artificial. The only thing I'd agree with is a woodland cemetery, as long as it won't be located on the most sensitive parts of the Wick - sensitive in terms of flora and fauna.

A meaningful country park that embraces nature and leisure facilities for family use.

Anything less than the equivalent Westlands or Highwoods country park should not be considered.

Remove Middlewick Ranges from the housing allocation to protect the amenity value and environment of the site to the benefit of all residents and users of the surrounding area.

Development causes environmental damage, at basic level the allocation cannot reasonably be expected to improve recreational benefits to Colchester residents. Provision of new local facilities may benefit new occupiers of the development but will damage or at worse destroy the benefits for all the existing users. These ‘users’ are not just the walkers etc but everyone who lives within the beneficial environment of this important green lung, that includes all of southern Colchester and every village and community close by.

Independent studies into the biodiversity of the Middlewick Ranges should be carried out by a group considered appropriate by all stakeholders not just the council and developers.

Middlewick contains environmentally important acid grassland as well as other important biodiversity and should not be considered as an appropriate place to build housing. If we are to protect the planet then sites such as this should not be considered for building new housing projects when it will line the pockets of greedy developers.

Contradicts government drive to move away from greenfield developments to brownfield as in the budget 27/10/2021 reiterated in COP26.
An example of space that can be used during novel pandemics and has proven policy recommending outdoor excersise during times of high infection rate with closure of public ameneties.
The"Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011" shows a lacking of current knowledge, referring to farmland pasture instead of the accurate acid grassland classification.
Acts as a buffer seperating the at risk and declining wildlife such as song birds from domestic predators such as cats. Increased human activity, less biodiversity.

Contradicts government drive to move away from greenfield developments to brownfield as in the budget 27/10/2021 reiterated in COP26.
An example of space that can be used during novel pandemics and has proven policy recommending outdoor excersise during times of high infection rate with closure of public ameneties.
The"Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011" shows a lacking of current knowledge, referring to farmland pasture instead of the accurate acid grassland classification.
Acts as a buffer seperating the at risk and declining wildlife such as song birds from domestic predators such as cats. Increased human activity, less biodiversity.

Do Not Build on it, leave it for all to enjoy and use.

This build will cause damage to lungs of South Colchester by increased traffic, increased emissions and the land to absorb these on the Mersea Road and Abbots Road. It will cause destruction to rare species of wildlife and will affect the well-being of Colchester residents. The Middlewick Ranges has acted as a buffer between the built-up housing surrounding it, the additional housing will create urban sprawl; one very large housing estate, with little greenspace to share between existing and new residents

Leave well alone so many homes being built every where, will be no open spaces soon

Who ever though army would sell off land, well they want to and I think it's a shame. We are surposed to be a garson town, hardley ever see a soldier now, becoming a normal town like every other town.
This area should be left, plenty of open space with matured trees all good for green secto6

Sc2 to be taken out as clearly breaks all ecology and Biodiversity net gain plans due to the rarity of the land and current climate problems

No matter what conditions or "improvements" are put in place, There can be no benefit to what is already there ,Greenspace for wildlife and the public. With the Prime Minister now saying greenspace should not be build on Middlewick clearly falls into this category.
Middlewick acts as a green space for several large housing estates to push it further south discriminates against people who have the ability to walk for longer periods
Ecology and climate should be up-to-date and not from a report now nearly 5yrs old,

Build somewhere else of less destruction to the environment

This site should be left alone to better its natural beauty for the wildlife

That Middlewick Ranges as a buffer and wildlife corridor should be protected from development. It shouldn't have been allowed to remain in the local plan.

I agree that the land is a well-used recreational space, not only by dog walkers but by many people seeking space to observe and listen to wildlife, and feel at peace away from traffic and built environment. The Colchester orbital is wonderful precisely because it goes through some lovely green spaces, rights of way through housing are not the same thing. Middlewick ranges is already a buffer for some heavily built up areas and is one of the few spaces to get away from the sound of traffic and light pollution.

country park

No building should be allowed, the Middlewick site must be preserved undisturbed for its benefits to biodiversity, climate and human health.

Middlewick provides green space for biodiversity as well as vital physical and mental health benefits to all who use it for recreation and exercise. This will all be damaged or lost if the site is developed.
Green spaces and woodland absorb greenhouse gases such as CO2 and other pollutants as well as rainwater runoff, reducing pollution and flooding.
Building on Middlewick will damage the biodiversity, pollution and rainfall reduction capacity and the availability of space for exercise and recreation. Located close to many areas of housing, it is a green lung and a vital buffer between existing built up areas.

In the interests of clean air, open space avoiding urban sprawl, Middlewick should be ruled out of the LP.

Developing Middlewick will create an urban sprawl linking Speedwell, Monkwick and Barn Hall estates. Also the old areas of Old Heath and Blackheath/Berechurch. This is undesirable.
The loss of open space, clean air and leisure goes against the current political will to retain as much of this as possible. The SE of Colchester will lose an important green lung. For ever.

New open space should not be created within the site or allowed to further reduce semi-natural habitat and wildlife value at Middlewick. Formal playing pitches, parks and play space for new and existing residents should be provided within existing arable or agriculturally improved grassland in close proximity to the proposed development and made accessible by safe walking routes and cycle lanes.

Reason: Formal open space is no substitute for established wildlife habitat, and new green infrastructure is highly unlikely to support existing complex ecological systems at landscape level.

New open spaces of the example typologies will not meet the needs of residents who wish to commune with nature and therefore unlikely to reduce footfall on nearby sensitive sites; they will be at the expense of existing habitats and wildlife within Middlewick, the loss of which may result in increased footfall on these sites.
They will require extensive landscaping and maintenance likely to include reseeding, herbicide use and intensive mowing regimes responsible for the destruction of semi-natural grasslands throughout the UK, and a major cause of catastrophic ecological decline currently experienced world-wide, and particularly acute in the UK.

Recognition of the lowland acid grassland and protected species (and loss thereof) under 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act.

I moved from Colchester to Scotland for a better quality of life but have friends in the town of my birth whose quality of life in an already overcrowded and overdeveloped part of the country depends on our preserving the biodiversity on Middlewick site which is one of the last acid grassland sites left in the country owing to it being undisturbed for some considerable time whilst under auspices of the MOD. You cannot simply transplant this habitat to another area like it was a collection of spring bulbs to be dug up and replanted according to the whim of humans. Acid grassland is part of the UK Biodiversity Action plan and several endangered species protected under the Wildlife & Countryside 1981 Act are to be found yet you do not mention this in the modifications.

As previous stated, the land should be left as near as possible as it currently is.

Public access to the land should be promoted but with the least ecologic damage possible. Bus service to the park should be electronic/hydrogen. Bike parks provided for people to cycle to and then walk the land from.

Toilets should be of the compost nature.

The provision of 'greenspace' that would accompany the development would no way be near to how the land currently is. It would be a mockery, small slivers of grassland or woodland would be a testament to what had been lost.

The area would be marked by roads and housing this with street lighting would mean the natural habitat is lost.

The urban sprawl of Colchester will continue, in years to come there will be further demands for development here.

It should be preserved as a country park for the future generations.

Middlewick Ranges to be retained as green open space.

This build will cause damage to lungs of South Colchester
by increased traffic and increased emissions.
• It will cause destruction to rare species of wildlife and will
affect the well-being of Colchester residents.
• Despite the stated benefits to residents and on
the proposed site in terms of greenspace, leisure and wellbeing, this means more disturbance and loss of
habitat and to surrounding areas due to development.
• The Middlewick Ranges is a buffer , the additional housing will
create urban sprawl; one very large housing estate, with
little greenspace to share between existing and new residents

This land should be preserved permanently for the present and future residents of Colchester whilst protecting the vital lowland acid grassland habitat.
With the current climate crisis the protection of areas such as this is paramount to offset carbon emissions. It is a dichotomy that we are talking about regreening and saving habitats while considering building on these vital green areas. This is about greed and should be removed from the plan. The inclusion of this within the plan in no way supports the people, the environment or wellbing of Colchester. It should be removed. It is purely about greed and morally and ecologically unacceptable.

For the duration of Colchester's relationship with the MOD, the green lungs, has provided a sanctuary for locals to enjoy the benefits of fresh air, peace and tranquility whilst exercising and benefiting their physical and mental health. The south of Colchester needs protection. Many believe the land when no longer used would be returned to the people of Colchester (who pay for the MOD and the land through their taxes). There are also many older residents who remember seeing truck loads of carcasses being buried during the BSE epidemic duting the night and not just ashes that the MOD insist.

No houses! Needs to be kept as a green space for local residents to enjoy.

The site is a valuable area of green space that should be protected both for the wildlife that lives there and for the opportunity to experience green space and the mental abs physical benefits this provides local residents. Local infrastructure especially the road access to and from the centre centre are not equipped to deal with the additional traffic this housing will bring to the area.

The Middlewick Ranges should be turned into a nature reserve.

The development and the increased traffic and pollution associated with it will destroy the rare habitat along with its protected species. Additionally, it will deprive the local community of an important recerational area that plays an important role in their health and wellbeing. The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is outdated and it doesn't classify The Ranges correctly as acid grassland, which should be procteted.

I am submitting my objection to the building of houses on Middlewick.
MM35 - Housing Allocation.
As I look around Colchester after living in the town for 74 years, I am concerned with the amount of building that has been going up over the past ten years. I know there is an allocation specified for Colchester to build, but you have gone beyond these figures. The amount of houses alone at Stanway and Severalls old grounds must cover these figures for years to come, they are not needed on Middlewick.
MM36 - Traffic and Transport.
How another 1000 houses with at least two cars per home is going to impact on the roads is beyond me. The only two roads into Colchester are Mersea Road and Old Heath Road. At the time of submitting this there is congestion every day on these roads, there is no other way into town from Mersea and Fingringhoe, Abbot’s Road only leads to these two roads, if trying to get to the Hythe there are traffic jams trying to get to Whitehall Road, where if the roads aren’t flooded the traffic is horrendous, this is not good for the environment at all, surely you must see this.
MM37 - Biodiversity and Wildlife.
Middlewick is full of the most beautiful wildlife you could want and that the world needs to keep, to many species are being lost to the destruction of open spaces, the deers foxes badgers running free is a wonderful thing and you want to destroy all this for 1000 houses, once you have dug this up it will never be replaced, the beautiful grasses for the butterflies the trees for nightingale which are so rare, the planet needs plants and wildlife to survive and the way we are going these are going to disappear.
MM38 - Environmental.
The pollution that will be thrown out by more cars on these road will be devastating. The fumes from the cars and busses will cause major problems to people already suffering from bronchial illnesses. Overpopulation is a big problem, Colchester is a small town, there are so many building going up we will be gridlocked, as soon as there is a problem on the A12 the whole town comes to a standstill, the roads are too small coming into town from this area. We are having trouble already with the sewage, it is unable to cope with more buildings, where is the waste going, we just haven’t got the resources. Children soon won’t have any open spaces left to enjoy, this must stop.
MM40 - Landscape.
This is the most beautiful piece of land left in this once beautiful town. The peace it gives people to just walk and enjoy the wildlife around them. The space to be able to breath fresh air, to see wildlife and hear the birds, after the most terrible last eighteen months, this was a place to go to escape the horror to have a little piece of mind, you cannot destroy this, the beautiful trees that have been growing for hundreds of years, these will never be replaced, please reconsider.
MM45 - Biodiversity Net Gain.
I cannot for one second imagine how you would leave this beautiful piece of countryside in a measurable better state than it was beforehand. How can you even think of being able to substitute the beautiful trees grasses with replacement twigs which would take hundred of years to grow. You would be covering the place with concrete. There is nothing you can do to improve this only destroy everything.
MM46 - Long Term Management and Mitigating.
I understand that there has to be five years of monitoring the habitat before any plan is to be considered, if after five years of monitoring of growth and development of the habitat then the project is discussed, I would ask has this been done, you can’t just decide to build without a independent source. This cannot be pushed under the carpet.
MM47 - Scope
I would ask have up to date surveys been taken? as I understand outdated ones are being used, these are not sound and a independent one is urgently needed.
I would like my objection to be put forward with all the others, and please reconsider this terrible planning.

This land should be preserved permanently for the present and future residents of Colchester whilst protecting the vital lowland acid grassland habitat.
With the current climate crisis the protection of areas such as this is paramount to offset carbon emissions. It is a dichotomy that we are talking about regreening and saving habitats while considering building on these vital green areas. The inclusion of this within the plan in no way supports the people, the environment or wellbeing of Colchester. It should be removed. It is purely about greed and morally and ecologically unacceptable

This area is land is ecologically vital and a habitat that certainly should not be built on. It should be protected forever as SSSI or similar. Local experts, Essex Wildlife Trust, Colchester Natural History and the Butterfly Conservation Group, along with the Midland Ecologist report all find the building of any houses on this site to be totally destructive on this rare lowland acid grassland site.
As humans we need to fight for our space and protect the air we breathe and the creatures who do not have a voice

I don’t like the idea

It’s better for the environment to leave it how it is. A place for everyone to visit and walk and enjoy the wildlife

This land should simply not be developed.

We are already losing far too much of our green space across the borough, which impacts on social health and wellbeing as well as the environment in a big way. This land is a natural habitat to so many species vital to our eco-system and to their survival. It goes against everything we are trying to achieve in COP26. It also takes away valuable recreational space for the local residents, impacting on physical and mental wellness and wellbeing and a feeling of community. It creates more pollution and carbon emissions. It is also of local heritage value.

Be honest. Document the fact that you cannot hope to maintain and/or develop green space to the extent we already have, if you build 1000 homes.

The MM38 opening paragraph states that the “development proposal will be expected to deliver new open space as well as strategic green infrastructure”. Read your statement several times please! The Middlewick is already an open space. We don’t need new space, just don’t cover up the existing space. It’s like stating that we must plant new trees but we continue to clear them for industry. It’s completely nonsensical and uneconomic. It is far more cost-effective and expedient to leave things as they are than to try to develop new space. In addition, established habitat provides more environmental benefits than new space given that shrubs trees and wildlife already abound and the status quo must be better.
You state that you need to avoid increased footfall in other natural spaces. How do you expect to do this if you build upon land that is currently used widely? Again, this makes no sense. The B1025 (Mersea Road) is now one of the busiest tributaries connecting Colchester to outlying villages, especially Mersea Island. Yesterday, due to a set of traffic lights near the Strood, there was a two-mile tailback of traffic, which is an indicator of the volumes of vehicles using that road. Many people travel to Mersea for recreation. This includes daily dog-walkers so without Middlewick one can expect this volume to increase. In the summer months, B1025 traffic increases to such an extent that there have been three-mile tailbacks trying to access Cudmore Grove country park, which can only get worse if you remove people’s local space.
Middlewick provides a natural green barrier between various urban developments. How do you seriously think you can maintain such a barrier (as you now say you must) by building 1000 homes? Any logical outcome to the constraints that you have added to MM38 result in Middlewick being removed from the Local Plan. There is no scenario that I can think of in which the requirements that you have included here can be achieved unless the plan is dropped.
You also discuss green corridors and walking routes around the south of Colchester. How? Development along Berechurch Hall Road, Gosbecks Road and Cunobelin Way are already strangling the green space to the south of Colchester. You are not building a green ring; on the contrary, it is a ring of concrete.

the wick should be preserved as a wilklife sanctuary for the good and benefit of Colchester.

Abbotts Road and Mersea Road are already very busy roads. The Wick helps to absorb emissions. The area is well loved and well used for recreational space. The wellbeing of Colchester residents depend on this green space. Urban sprawl is not beneficial. Covid has shown us that we need green space. This land is used more and more in recent years. Green Infrastructure strategy is out of date and incorrectly refers to Middlewick as Farmland not acid grassland. Formal play parks are not the same as hunting for lizards, skylarks, butterflys. Let children of Colchester continue to experience this

The whole plan needs to be shelved completely.

This is a area which should be classified as a SSSI and is not a brown belt land. This has rare grasses on it making it a green belt area of which the government are not allowed to build on and the report used was modified (created) so that it would fit to criteria to 'pass' a test in order to actually be allowed to be built on the DEFRA matrix was not used at all. The MOD created their own. Which to me seems illegal and should be challenged. I feel like the area should remain a natural site due to the expanse of wildlife and rare acid grasslands as this has not been done appropriately at all.

MM38
This build will seriously damage the only green lung in this area to the detriment of the Residents on three sides of the Ranges. There will be nowhere close enough to enjoy nature, breathe clean air, for children to play safe from traffic, to walk dogs, without resorting to the car to go further afield to other open spaces. The wildlife will either leave due to the destruction of their habitats, or they will die off. Middlewick Ranges are adjacent to an SSSI, and site noise and upheaval will be detrimental to the SSSI.
MM35
Air pollution in Colchester is already above Governmental safety guidelines, and especially so on Mersea/Abbott’s Road. Colchester is one of the most polluted towns in the country, and one of the most built up too. There is not the infrastructure to cope. In the last five years 25,628 people have moved into the Colchester area. In the last decade or so seven hospitals have been sold off to housing developers. Severalls,
Essex County, St. Mary’s, Myland, Heath, Essex Hall and the Maternity Hospital. We now have ONE, Colchester General which is frequently overwhelmed, as are GPS, Dentists, schools.
MM36
Traffic congestion is a big problem without more vehicles adding to it, plus ten or more years of dust, dirt, and noise from heavy plant machinery polluting the air further. Entering and exiting the site will cause major congestion and disruption on Abbots/Mersea Road and surrounding roads. In the rush hours it can take over an hour or more to get to work across town to the hospital and other employment, and congestion is ever present where development is ongoing now.
MM37
Middlewick Ranges is a Designated Wildlife Site and contains very rare acid grass which is vital for the survival of certain invertebrates and flora, many of whom are protected species. This lowland acid grass and Heath have remained undisturbed for hundreds of years. There needs to be another up-to-date Ecology Report. The plants and wildlife there will not survive the loss of their habitat. To create acid grass will take many years, may not be successful and the wildlife will die off
MM40
We need to get the Middlewick Ranges reclassified to incorporate the acid grass as it is not all just ‘farmland.’ Many will not want to live within the vicinity of the electricity pylons, either from fear of their effect close up or because they are an eyesore.
MM45
Middlewick Ranges are referred to as ‘a farmland plateau. It is acid grass/Heath.
MM46
It will be impossible to mitigate the upheaval/damage to the habitats of the wildlife. Why was so little made of the fact the Middlewick Ranges are a Local Wildlife Site with protected species. Will the Skylarks wait any number of years for acid grass to be created? and that is just one example. Where will the wildlife go during the intermediary period? Some will possibly go to the adjacent SSSI but most will die off.
Has the wider effect of chemicals been soundly investigated? What guarantees will there be if the Management Company fails?
MM47
The aims for this site are not achievable. They are not in the interests of the Wildlife or the surrounding residents both from a physical and mental health point of view. There is also the fact that Middlewick Ranges were added to the Local Plan without due process taking place.

The plan needs to be that this green space stays as it is

Destruction of green space and urban sprawl as Middlewick offers one of the only natural wildlife areas in the south of Colchester. Areas of Middlewick are a site of special scientific interest due to the amount of rare species discovered there. This area due its beauty encourages more outdoor pursuits which promotes healthier living. Also Boris Johnson claimed that there would be no building on green spaces at the Tory Conference .