MM40

Noticable high voltage cables overhead. The inspector has not fully read the latest documented research.
There is strong suggestion that the risk of brain tumor, and particularly gliomas could be associated with residential ELF-MF exposure estimated by proximity of power line [Carles et al 2020, Residential proximity to power lines and risk of brain tumor in the general population, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935120303662].
If relocated undergroud how many tonnes of earth would need to be moved and the impact of this.
There must be concern for run-off pollution into Birch Brook and the affect on downstream ecology.

Noticable high voltage cables overhead. The inspector has not fully read the latest documented research.
There is strong suggestion that the risk of brain tumor, and particularly gliomas could be associated with residential ELF-MF exposure estimated by proximity of power line [Carles et al 2020, Residential proximity to power lines and risk of brain tumor in the general population, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935120303662].
If relocated undergroud how many tonnes of earth would need to be moved and the impact of this.
There must be concern for run-off pollution into Birch Brook and the affect on downstream ecology.

The Green Infrastructure Strategy is now 10 years old and mistakenly refers to the site as farmland not ancient acid grassland.
Established habitats cannot be “mitigated” or “compensated” for like spring bulbs where some can be dug up and moved to another area of town, the site must be left in situ and undeveloped.

I moved from the overpopulated and overdeveloped part of the country to Scotland for a better quality of life; for my friends in the Colchester area, conservation of any remaining green space is critical. There are some high voltage electricity pylons to the north of this site and the building of homes will only cause an increase in headaches, insomnia etc for persons suffering this type of sensitivity. Even if these pylons could be buried that would mean yet more disturbance and loss of local wildlife habitats.

Middlewick Ranges to be retained as green open space.

The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is out-of-date, being ten years old. It refers to the
Middlewick Ranges as a farmland plateau, not acid grassland.

It’s an important green area that should be protected, it’s not suitable for housing.

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.

That there will be at least twice or three times the recommended area (but not legal) that any development would start from the pylons.

High Voltage electricity pylons lie at the north of the site, how safe are these close to
homes in terms of headaches, fatigues, anxiety, insomnia? Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be transferred underground and this is a throw away additional comment as it is obvious a development would find this not feasible and too expensive.

The Middlewick ranges should be turned into a nature reserve.

Electricity pylons might be have a negative impact on the health of the people living in the homes nearby.

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.

You must include a statement that acknowledges that the new homes themselves are in fact the main visual intrusion and no amount of mitigation can prevent this eyesore should the build go ahead.

My objections to MM38 and MM39 already covers much of this modification. However, the specific point here is that Middlewick is beautiful in its own way, as are surrounding areas of Donyland Woods and Friday Woods. How on earth does anyone think that building 1000 homes is compatible with screening visual intrusions? The housing IS the visual intrusion. The only way not to have such visual intrusion is not to build the homes.

In view of the incorrect out of date Green infrastructure Strategy 2011, the additional housing over and aboce the Target should be removed from the local plan for the good of the people of Colchester.

The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is out of date. Middlewick Ranges consists of acid grassland and is not a farmland plateau.
the area contains High Voltage Pylons. burying these will cause even more disturbance. Building around the pylons would not be safe.

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.

How can you possibly minimise the effects of any type of building on such land.

You cannot visually improve the area by adding housing and trying to bury pylons to make it more appealing to the eye is unfeasible.

Middlewick removed from the local plan.

MM40 is putting further constraints on the site, following on from other modifications over wildlife etc which would mean housing would be concentrated on particular areas. It is a common problem in Colchester that any building work will uncover archeological artefacts and are regularly mitigated for, but, with the added modifications due to wildlife, cycle and walking routes, electricity pylons etc, this in reality, will mean housing concentrated on a smaller area producing a crowded housing scheme unsuitable for the area.

Cancel

Concerns over safety of electricity pylons. Too close to homes.

This sections needs to reflect the true habitat type / landscape of the site which would then see the plan to be unsound.
A full ecological, environmental and health impact assessment of pylon location and proximity to houses prior to development demonstrating minimal to no impact than there is already.

The Green Infrastructure Strategy (2011) is now out-of-date, (over ten years old). It refers to the Middlewick Ranges as a 'farmland plateau', instead of 'acid grassland'. A concern should also be for the high Voltage electricity pylons at the north of the site; I question how safe these are to people's homes, as there is evidence of them causing headaches, fatigues, anxiety, insomnia? Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be transferred underground, I would want to see a full assessment of the impact of this with case studies of other locations.

Prevent any development to this much loved green space

Middlewick supports rare species of wildlifes and the greatest benefit to residenst would be to preserve it and prevent unnecessary disturbance.Leave Middlewick alone, the area cannot support further infrastructure and the assumptions used are out of date, specifically the Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 which is being used to justify development and has the area incorrectly classified.

A full safety check to ensure that this area is safe to house 1,000 houses. To me, screening visual intrusion's would mean large areas of trees, not fields and large gardens to ensure as much greenery is kept as is possible. Also, developments taking place over a long period of time to avoid disruption.

Is it safe to build housing so close to pylons? Studies have shown that living near high voltage electrical pylons substantially increases the risks of contracting cancer. Also, if they do get put underground this will be huge disruption to the environment and this should be considered carefully alongside disruption to build roads and houses.

Remove Middlewick Ranges from the plan.

Landscape is an important and valued asset to the the existing community. Its development represents a significant loss to the landscape setting of the borough. On a site like this an LVIA to mitigated against the impact of 1000 home is pitiful.

High Voltage electricity pylons lie at the north of the site, how safe are these close to
homes in terms of headaches, fatigues, anxiety, insomnia?
Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be transferred underground.
The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is out-of-date, being ten years old. It refers to the
Middlewick Ranges as a farmland plateau, not acid grassland.

Forget about doing anything here it’s needed for health benefits to our community.

To dig up any off this land would be a travesty. Leave it as it is one off our beautiful green spaces we’ve hardly any left.

Reject the plans for using Middlewick as a Building site.

The area intended for 1000 new homes also houses High Voltage electricity pylons. These would be close to homes and studies have already shown health concerns where pylons are situation close to houses in terms of headaches, fatigues, anxiety and insomnia. A pooled analysis of nine studies reported a twofold increase in risk of childhood leukaemia among children with exposure to pylons. Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be transferred underground.

Remove Middlewick from the local plan

Any housing on the Wick will be to the detriment of the existing landscape because the Wick currently stands as a substantial green link between Roman River, Friday Woods and the Hythe Lagoons/Marshes.
It also contributes to and compliments the landscape because it provides a plateau area of heaths and rare grasslands not seen in the other areas.
Building houses will have a huge detrimental impact on this landscape, nothing can mitigate it.

Throw out the plans

The gentle sloping landscape, says it all. The gentle sloping, ah, it's disappeared, never to be seen again. The landscape has been obliterated by housing. There is already the eyesore of Electricity pylons to the North of the site, which can cause migraine, nausea, sleeplessness and the possibility of anxiousness with those with mental health problems. Why add to these problems.

Don't build on the Wick.

The green infrastructure 2011 is out of date. There is acid grassland on the Wick, not listed in the report. This is protected and cannot be successfully recreated elsewhere.
There are electric pylons north of the site which should not be close to people.

If we ignore the years of investigations, reports and general ecological “health” of our town, then we do a disservice to all of our young people who will have to live with the consequences of our decisions

High Voltage electricity pylons lie at the north of the site, how safe are these close to homes in terms of headaches, fatigues, anxiety, insomnia?
• Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be transferred un- derground.
• The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is out-of-date, being ten years old. It refers to the Middlewick Ranges as a farmland plateau, not acid grassland.

No houses should be built

How will the water run off from hard surfaces be dealt with? The brook runs behind existing houses on birch glen.
Any excess water in the brook will flood the properties bordering the brook.

Leave as they are do not build houses, leave as a community country park

High voltage pylons are at the north of the area, how safe is it to build house under them, would be even more upheaval to bury them underground.

How safe are they anyway, I used to live near high Voltage power line you could hear them fizzing in the mist, I also used to get loads of headaches when I lived there.

Remove Middlewick Ranges from the local plan.

What will happen to all the electricity pylons on tgebranges? Will these be moved, as nobody wants them near their property. They are noisy and have links to childhood leukemia.
The Green Infrastructure strategy report of 2011 is 10 years out of date and does not reference the acid grassland.

MM35
Alternative sites were not examined in the South of Colchester and as such the proposal does not limit the land to just the brownfield land within the fenced area but also the greenfield land. Opportunities are not clear as there is a lack of retail and infrastructure in this part of Colchester and the road system cannot be upgraded due to location of current housing against the roads.

MM36
Currently the Spin scooters which are aimed at reducing pollution are unable to travel across St Boltoph’s roundabout into town making them null and void. Additionally there is no space for a cycle lane or bus lane along mersea road so new homeowners will remain in their vehicles to town and beyond. This will only increase pollution and remove the natural filter that the greenery provides. 1000 new homes will increase traffic exponentially and as shown there is no genuine solution to reducing emissions.

MM37
The unique undisturbed acid grassland should be maintained, creating an artificial area elsewhere is not a suitable substitute as not only will the wildlife not migrate but runoff will pollute surrounding rivers and it will not be safeguarded for another 100 years where the developer must maintain it. It is a designated local wildlife site and priority habitat along with European protection of sites and species.

MM38
The only way to develop the area to provide sufficient benefit to residents with leisure and retail would be further large scale development of the surrounding land which will create further loss of habitats and increase pollution locally to deadly levels. The green space strategy was formed in 2011 and not only misrepresented middlewick ranges as farmland plateu instead of acid grassland but also is 10 years out of date so cannot be used when making decisions without being substantially updated.

MM40
The pylons on the north of the site are not only an eyesore but a regularly debated health risk worldwide, to remove these would cause significant further disruption to Middlewick Ranges and the surrounding roads and residents. Also the proposed cut through road between mersea road and abbots road causes significant impact to owners of houses adjacent being able to safely get on and off their driveways.

MM45
Why did the inspector readily accept the proposal with a myriad of missing information and not insist on having the full facts before making a decision? The original consideration of Middlewick ranges should have shown that the local wildlife status, lowland acid grassland and protected species as reasons for rejection.

MM46
The mitigation proposed is experimental and there is no proof of success because ISST is experimental. The setting up of a management company for 30 years to look after the new acid grassland is laughable as we are paying a large sum of money for something that already exists and is free. The 30 year period also offers no long term protection to the acid grassland.

MM47
The process by which the site was assessed and identified as suitable does not meet the four soundness tests as set out in paragraph 182 of NPPF. It is not: consistent with national policy, based on proportionate evidence, effective, positively prepared and as such should not be allowed to proceed as it is against the rules.

it should be cancelled immediately

High voltage pylons are very close to the site - how safe are these close to homes given the association of these structures with many health concerns including headaches, fatigues, anxiety and insomnia? Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be moved. The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is laughably out-of-date, being ten years old and incorrectly refers to the Middlewick Ranges as a farmland plateau, not acid grassland.

All plans are outdated and wrongly classify the wick as farmland plateau not the special rare acid grassland it is
This is not a brown site area this is green belt destruction

There are high voltage pylons on the site which could prove dangerous to health and putting this underground would be expensive and complex
Any extra digging / concrete adds to problems of flooding around Hythe area
There is also military debris on site

In that the Local Plan is not:
consistent with national policy
based on proportionate evidence
effective
positively prepared

MM35
Central requirement target has been exceeded by CBC. Government policy is aimed at development of brownfield sites not like Middlewick and should raise questions about the out of date strategy (2011) used that do not reflect current policy / allocation.
There has been an unreasonable appraisal bias toward the South of Colchester; this seems unfair.
Words used such as "opportunities" are subjective, opportunities for who or what?
It is noted that most of the Appraisal of Policy SC2 where measurement is required is documented as NOT APPLICABLE. This is not exact and needs assessment.
MM36
Middlewick is located on the opposite side of the river to the main transport road and rail (Rail/A12). This will require all traffic to use the existing access or crossing points namely St Botolphs/ Middleborough / Hythe Bridge/Old Heath Road/Mersea Road.
All new developments South of Colchester will also be in contention for the access resource.
MM37
There appears to have been an ignorance of the most educated expert advice (EWT, Natural History, Conservation Groups) and the inspector appears not understand current science and government policy regarding Acid Grasslands. These types of land are easiest to develop, hence there are very few remaining and is top priority for conservation as a designated wildlife site with European interest.
The wildlife site review taken in 2016 is out of date.
MM38
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 exercise during times of high infection rate with closure of public amenities.
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 separating the at risk and declining wildlife such as song birds from domestic predators such as cats. Increased human activity, less biodiversity.
MM40
Noticeable high voltage cables overhead. The inspector has not fully read the latest documented research.
There is strong suggestion that the risk of brain tumour, and particularly gliomas could be associated with residential ELF-MF exposure estimated by proximity of power line [Carles et al 2020, Residential proximity to power lines and risk of brain tumour in the general population, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935120303662].
Even more land disturbance would be needed if these pylons were to be transferred underground. The Green Infrastructure Strategy 2011 is out-of-date, being ten years old. It refers to the Middlewick Ranges as a farmland plateau, not acid grassland
MM45
The missing information regarding Biodiversity Net Gain should have been challenged by the inspector.
Use of 10-year-old documentation (Green Infra Strategy 2011) as basis is negligent and least not relevant in 2021.
It is important that planning decisions are based on up-to-date ecological reports and survey data. After three years the report is unlikely to still be valid and most, if not all, of the surveys are likely to need to be updated.
MM46
Flawed Defra metric 2.0 does not include irreplaceable distinctive habitats (by definition these are not included as irreplaceable).
There is no acknowledgement Middlewick is an Acid Grassland.
Use of a proxy management company to mitigate the acid content of acid grassland should raise concern about leaching of sulphur into the downstream Birch Brook biobank. There is no evidence base for this mitigation and it should be classed as experimental at best. We should not be experimenting with natural biodiversity, or it will not be nature nor diverse.
MM47
There is an overlooking of the classification of Acid Grassland by both the inspector and CBC, and the importance of this UK Biodiversity Action Plan top priority national scope.
Several plant, invertebrate and bird species found in acid grassland are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The process by which the site was assessed and identified as suitable does not meet the four soundness tests as set out in paragraph 182 of the NPPF.
In that the Local Plan is not:
consistent with national policy
based on proportionate evidence
effective
positively prepared.