Sewage works does not have sufficient capacity causing spillages into Blackwater estuary which will have an effect on the Oyster fishing beds.
Rising sea levels and climate changes will impact access on and off the island at high tides. Public transport and delivery services will be severely affected.
Doctors surgery already closed to new patients.
Dawes Lane traffic movements will increase and without widening it could become dangerous. Also, it will cause major problems with the road junction with East Road at the Strood.
What is the point of building another 300 homes when current new homes are not selling.

We consider the proposed increase in new build home as in appropriate as the local facilities are already at breaking point eg the Doctors .and problems with the Strood flooding making access and departure impossible at certain times during the month.

While agreeing to provision of affordable homes for local people in order to maintain the existing social cohesion within our community, I strongly object to the plan to build 300 dwellings.
Mersea is an island with increasingly high tides associated with climate change. Access by road is impossible on these occasions.
Current sewage facilities are inadequate. The Blackwater estuary has higher levels of pathogens than are acceptable.
The medical practice has closed their list, unable to accept any new patients.
Colchester City relies heavily on Mersea to provide 'access to nature' for city dwellers. Over-development will ruin this facility.

I am concerned that this is over development of the area.

There is only one access to Mersea and the tide covers that access on many days at High Tide. There is already heavy back up of vehicles waiting to cross when the Stroud is covered. Adding 300 houses is likely to add at least another 600 vehicles as well as increased vehicles servicing those homes which is going to increase the congestion on high tide days. There is of course a danger at times of covered high tides as emergency access on and off the island will be affected.

Dawes Lane is already too narrow and there is barely room for two cars to pass each other and quite dangerous if a lorry and a car are approaching each other. Pot holes on the edge increase the danger and recently I had to come to a Stop to allow a lorry to pass me and to avoid driving into a deep pot hole on the edge of the road. This surprised a car following me that nearly then ran into me.

Infrastructure on the island is already stretched, no more patients abel to sign on at the GP Surgery for example. Other infrastructure capacity such as sewage, water, schools etc should be increased before yet more houses and people are added to the demand for those services.

Environmental concerns affecting the Blackwater Estuary, shellfish & bathing waters
Lack of medical facilities, GP list for new patients is closed
Limited public transport which is affected by regular tides covering the Strood which also limits emergency services
Further impact on strained utility structures
West Mersea is a unique island location which should be preserved
Lack of school facilities
Impact of increased traffic on small roads and on the only access road The Strood
The island is not suitable for increased development

Island with tidal flooding impacts access
Environmental concerns affecting water quality, bathing and fishing trade
Inadequate medical facilities
Limited public transport and is affected by high tides
Utilities are already strained
Unique island will be negatively impacted
Retailers unable to cope in high season/poor weather
Locals are being priced out

Island with tidal flooding impacts access
Environmental concerns affecting water quality, bathing and fishing trade
Inadequate medical facilities
Limited public transport and is affected by high tides
Utilities are already strained
Unique island will be negatively impacted
Retailers unable to cope in high season/poor weather
Locals being priced out

I am a new resident in the approved scheme at Dawes Lane. Pedestrian and vehicular access will need really careful consideration. There is no safe pedestrian route due North on Dawes Lane and no safe pedestrian crossing to link land to the East and West of Dawes Lane, which will need to be included to enable connectivity with the Glebe and on to West Mersea. Dawes Lane is narrow; it is not possible to exit onto Dawes Lane if traffic is approaching from either direction as there is insufficient turning space.

Objection to Proposed New Housing for West Mersea.

Our Ref.: Proposed New Dawes Lane Development.

Your Ref.: Colchester City Council Regulation 18 Consultation. Proposed new housing for

West Mersea.

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are writing to formally object to the proposed allocation of land for additional housing known as "New Dawes Lane Site". Whilst we understand the need for new housing,

we strongly believe that this development will have a detrimental impact on our community, particularly in terms of existing residents and visitors' wellbeing, green spaces, local wildlife and infrastructure.

Mersea Island is a small unique island that more than doubles Its population during the

summer months. People visit this sanctuary to experience escape from urban life, for water sports and for peace and quiet which the island can currently provide.

Access

The only way to access the island is via the B1025 from Colchester leading on to The Strood. This regularly floods making it impossible to access the island by road. On these

occasions there are queues of vehicles coming onto and leaving the island. Those wanting to come onto the island may have to queue back as far as Abberton. This causes access to Peldon and the properties between Abberton and Mersea a serlous problem. The roads are already in very poor repair and were never constructed to carry the volume or load of current

traffic.

Once on the island any additional traffic will only worsen the already difficult situation concerning car parking, navigating parked cars and heighten the danger to pedestrians on the narrow roads and lanes which make the island unique.

Dawes Lane is a single-track road which is currently in poor condition, particularly at the edges. Additional traffic to that which uses the road already, can be expected when all the houses on the new Kingsfield Estate are occupied. This will only make navigating this lane even worse. The new Kingsfield Estate has its only entrance and exit onto Dawes Lane,

adding another "New Dawes Lane" estate will make this situation intolerable. East Road now has all the additional traffic from Sanderling Reach, Brierley and Wellhouse Avenue estates, along with the Waldergraves Caravan Park, The Fox Inn, the avenues from the coast, local traffic and is therefore not an alternative.Public transport This is becoming an ever-Increasing difficulty. The number and regularity of busses onto the island has been drastically reduced over recent years. The bus companies who provide transport regularly change their times without notice or consultation. This confuses existing customers and discourages potential users. At school times the busses are often full of children which prevents buses stopping for the general public, making trips to and from Colchester a bigger than necessary, tedious, tiering and unhealthy problem. Busses will not come onto the island for a period of 3 hours if a high tide is predicted, even if the tide doesn't cover the Strood. This situation will only be worsened when more people need to get onto or off the island and Is likely to increase the number of vehicles used as an alternative to public transport.

Taxis Taxis are expensive and also refuse to come onto the island if there is a risk of the tide covering the Strood. With more people trying to find alternative ways to access the island, taxis do not seem to be a suitable alternative.

Car Parking From the information made available to the public, there seems to be no additional car parking space close to the town centre. In the town centre there is only one small public car park which is often full. There is nowhere for additional traffic to park. Side roads already have parked cars. Over filling them with recklessly parked cars is likely to be expected. This situation would be an accident waiting to happen.

Services

The fresh water supply is limited and regularly suffers from pressure drops. This will only get worse if a greater demand is put on the already strained system.

Waste water treatment is limited and often in need of repair to minimise excessive noise and unpleasant odours from the existing treatment works. Additional load will add to the constant repair. There will also need to be a greater number of large Treatment Works tankers on the narrow access bridleway. This Is an unwanted consequence.

Natural rainwater drainage will be reduced by covering open drainage space with buildings and the like. The island already suffers from surface water flooding of roads. East Road, onto which Dawes Lane joins, floods at the junction. East Road itself is particularly bad, frequently having both lanes of the road flooded. This is because the existing surface water drains are elther blocked or incapable of handling the current volume of rainwater. Pedestrians are often soaked by traffic driving through the flooded area of road, particularly if oncoming vehicles prevent drivers from avoiding a flooded area. More piped rainwater equals more flooding and will only exacerbate the problem.

The island is supplied by electricity from underwater cables put in place during, we believe, the 1980's. Coming up to 50 years old, they were never intended for the load that they are now required to supply, particularly with the ever-increasing demand caused by new all-electric homes and charging of electric vehicles. Adding to the demand, by increasing the number of homes on Mersea Island, will put greater strain on the network and increase power outages.

The island has a natural gas supply. The original supply was put in during 1989. From the road signage we see, there Is a demand from existing residents to have a gas supply installed to their homes. We doubt the original pipework was intended to cope with what would be expected if the demand is increased by a number of new homes in addition to the recent new developments of Kingsfield, Brierley Paddock and Sanderling Reach Estates.Infrastructure

The existing residents of the island have been distressed by the stretched medical services.

The Doctors have "closed their books" to new patients. We have personally had difficulties getting doctor's appointments. The telephone call walting queue has caused us to be automatically disconnected with an automatic request to "Call back later". More residents can only make the situation worse for all who already live here. Sooner or later there will be a "significant incident".

There is only one dental practice on the island. They have recently reduced their N.H.S. service and now can only provide a private dental practice. Even those who used to be N.H.S. patients have been forced to become private patients. Like most of the current medical services they are physically limited by the size of the bullding they currently occupy.

How do people get to off island doctors / dentists with road flooding, limited taxi services, the reduction in public transport services and problems caused by too many cars?

Has Colchester General Hospital got free capacity to accept a significant number of additional patients from Mersea Island? There are several proposed new housing developments around Colchester which will only exacerbate the situation.

Sea Water quality

With an increase In the number of dwellings on the island, there will be a commensurate increase in the amount of solled water which needs to be treated and a proportional increase in the amount of treated water discharged into the sea. The existing discharged treated water is not "Clean" consequently there will be an increase in the number of contaminants in the surrounding sea. Our island is slowly recovering from the adverse effects of the, now closed, Bradwell Power Station. Increasing other forms of contaminants will only worsen our fragile shellfish and fishing industries.

Wildlife

The area in question is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the endangered red squirrel, badgers, slow worms, several species of bats and owls, all of which are protected under the UK conservation laws. Red squirrels have already suffered significant habitat loss due to urban expansion on the island and further destruction of woodland areas will only accelerate their decline. These creatures rely on undisturbed woodland for food and nesting sites and further development could push them out of the area entirely.

Additionally, bats play a crucial role in maintaining the local ecosystem by controlling insect populations such as the Mersea mosquitoes and gnats, and aiding in pollination. Many species of bats roost in trees, old buildings and natural crevices all of which are at risk if this development proceeds. Disturbing their habitat could have long term consequences, not only for bat populations, but also for the broader ecological balance in the area. As a protected species, any disturbance or destruction of their roosts should not be taken lightly.

Owls are at risk as they depend on mature trees and open green spaces for hunting and nesting. The removal of trees and the increase in artificial lighting from new housing developments will severely Impact local owl populations, disrupting their natural hunting pattern and potentially forcing them out of the area. Owls play a vital role in controlling rodent populations and their decline could lead to unintended ecological consequences.Environmental

Trees provide air filtration, removal of carbon dioxide from the air and generation of oxygen. Removing the existing trees is not a positive step In the right direction.

Moreover, the loss of open land will significantly adversely affect resident's wellbeing. These areas provide essential free space for improving mental health by the visible natural open aspect. With Increasing urbanisation, It Is vital that we protect the few remaining green / open spaces we have, rather than sacrifice them for more housing.

Please take into account the concerns of local residents who value and cherish these green spaces. We hope the council will prioritise sustainability and the long-term environmental health of our community over Idealistic housing demands.

Housing need

Many of the houses recently built on Mersea still remain unsold. Sanderling Reach and Brierley Paddocks started some 4 years ago and still have properties unsold. The Kingsfield development on Dawes Lane is still not complete and sales of those completed is slow. We would suggest that more houses on Mersea Island is ill advised.

Our personal position.

We bought this property with the knowledge that no development could be made around us as part of our land and the area around us falls outside the settlement boundary. 4.4 of the West Mersea Neighbourhood Plan states "This will ensure that the undeveloped rural countryside is preserved and remains largely undeveloped". Policy OV2 of the Colchester Local Plan limits "development outside Settlement Boundaries to activities that either require a rural location or help sustain a rural community and local economy and which help protect the rural character of the areas." The existing town plan limits building / development. We understand this is a legally binding document. The proposals will Isolate us from wildlife. We currently enjoy a wide, open aspect on two sides of our property. A rural environment. The proposals will completely cut us off from the countryside on all sides turning our house position from rural to urban. We would be boxed in, imprisoned by new houses and loose our cherished wildlife neighbours.

Conclusion.

We do not think land should be allocated for additional building on Mersea Island and urge the council to reconsider the proposed development in this area and, if you are sure additional residential dwellings are required, explore alternative locations that would have less impact on existing resident's wellbeing, Infrastructure, natural beauty, ecological balance, wildlife and the environment of our unique island.

Environmental concerns affecting the Blackwater, failure to carry out necessary impact assessments.
Medical facilities closed to all new residents on the Island, with no view to opening the list anytime soon.
Limited Public Transport which is affected when the tide covers the Strood.
Utility Infrastructure already struggling to cope with the current permanent residents, let alone when we have summer visitors further burdening its resources.
New homes generally bought by older 'downsizers', Mersea is not an attractive proposition for families with younger children. Nothing for them to do, despite its beauty - which more dwellings will negatively impact.

I live on Mersea Island. I am not against further development provided it comes with the infrastructure to support it.
I have two grand daughters living at home who need to move into housing of their own in the near future.
My concerns are about the lack of affordable housing when we are becoming a second home location.
area s of the South West already suffer from this.
My other concerns have a higher priority.
The doctors’ surgery has already stopped accepting new patients. Getting an appointment is a challenge for many.
The roads are poorly maintained and not sufficiently wide to allow further use. Dawes Lane is crumbling at the edges.
Parking has become such a problem too. Higher charges already mean that local roads are being used in preference to Council car parks.
Water treatment and provision of water pressure, especially in the Summer need increasing before we have further development.
We have a beautiful island which we need to preserve.
The flooding of the Strood means that public transport is non-existent at certain times of the month and day. How will emergency services respond?
Broadband is patchy to say the least, especially at times of most use.
We have a beautiful island which we need to preserve.
The community aspect is so important too.
Surely we need to make sure that we build for the future in a way that provides services before the houses are started.

I would like to strongly object to the new plan Policy PP23 2025 for the proposal of 300 new dwellings to the east of Dawes Lane, West Mersea. This is in addition to the 200 + houses allocated in the present local plan of 2021-2033., for the following reasons.
West Mersea has not the infrastructure to cope with such a development.

There have been recent tests by the Environmental Agency showing a record levels of sewage pollution from the West Mersea Beach area, and I know of one case in the past of a fisherman becoming quite Ш from the ingestion of spray whilst returning home in the river. These releases of sewage have increased recently and are now amongst the highest levels ever recorded and are not due to excessive rainfall and storm conditions. This will harm the caravan sites and the local cafe, flshing, oyster business, swimming and the general enjoyment of the area and further damage the marine environment, should this development be allowed to proceed.
West Mersea has but one Doctors Surgery, and it is now extremely difficult to arrange an appointment, with the only other option to travel to Colchester Hospital for attention, assuming there is по tides to consider.
The same can be said for Dentistry on the island with по option but to seek attention from busy inland surgeries.
With such a devastating development, perhaps this may put as many as an additional 500 cars on the islands road each day. There are no buses direct to North Station Colchester, for commuting to London or its regions, therefore more chaos and danger on local roads, not even taking into consideration of the Spring High Water Tides and the restrictions so caused.
There is also the sad loss of important food producing farmland, which seems to receive very little consideration. Please do not allow this to proceed, and ruin such a pleasant and important idyll.

I lived on Mersea Island for 10 years in 1970-80"s moving back a year ago I was horrified. My disabled wife and I have to go to Rowhedge as the Mersea surgery is full with no waiting list. Dental treatment is on a private basis only as they have no room for further NHS patients. The infrastructure is not there to support any further developments certainly a further 300 homes would cause even more traffic problems and the very limited bus service wold be even more under pressure.
I therefore very much object to any further housing developments

For a whole range of reasons I believe that Mersea Island is NOT a suitable or sustainable location for further housing. I am aware that an extremely thorough response will be submitted by West Mersea Town Council and I would urge that careful consideration is given to all the detailed comments.

Building more house on Mersea at this time is simply irresponsible. The doctors aren’t taking anymore patients and new residents will have to look further afield, the sewage system on Mersea is inadequate for the homes it has now. The tide covers the causeway for much longer and is much higher so if ever people needed to leave (in an emergency) it would be impossible to get off. Before anymore houses are built please take into consideration the infrastructure of the island and not just build because there is an open space.

I would like to object to the above development based on the following
Inadequate infrastructure in place on Mersea
gp surgery at full capacity
Roads are in disrepair and not able to cope with additional traffic
Local people cannot afford to buy new houses as there are only a percentage that are affordable,
The houses for sale are not selling. For example sanderling reach only 50% of houses are sold 3 years after the development was launched. Parking at summertime for residents is nonexistent and the parking charges are expensive
Refuse collection is only restricted to 3 bags per household how will this work with more houses.

Mersea can't cope with the amout of people already living on the Island. Doctors are closed for new patients and so is the Dentist. The local school is full. There are plenty of new Houses that can't be sold .Why on earth would we need anymore. If these were all put up for social housing I would be in favour only because the young people that have lived her most of there lives cannot afford to buy or private Rent. I feel this would be great for our youngsters. But only if social housing No more houses to buy at ridiculously high prices .

I object, I do not think we need any more houses built on the island, especially not without providing:
Another general doctors surgery, another dentist, another school and improving/increasing waterworks and sewages works. Without sufficient sewage improvement, this could leak into our channels and potentially harm a 2000 year old tradition of oyster farming. The island cannot survive on the huge volume of new houses/people. The roads also need improving if there are going to be an increased number of cars on our roads.

The problem with all of the recent, and any planned developments is the lack of medical provision, the inadequate sewage plant, which is already operating over capacity and, very soon, no Primary school places.

In addition, the City Council continue to ignore the fact that there are an unknown number of people, (probably hundreds) classed as holidaymakers, but actually full time residents living on the mobile home camps.

There has been new homes built over the last few years with no investment into the infrastructure including the medical facilities. The only GP on the island is over run and closed to new patients. I have lived on the island since 2022 and have not been able to use the GP here (nor my whole family which includes an infant).

There is no mention of help towards a health centre and GP practise which is fit for a town of this size. The doctors have closed their books for new patients. Unacceptable! Properties should be for first time and young families. There is no need for more 4 bedroom detached homes! More bungalows for older and disabled people

I am a resident of Mersea Island. I am deeply concerned at the lack of provision for the ongoing healthcare of the residents on the Island if further housing is constructed.
At present the Drs surgery list is closed to new patients. Families with young children are unable to register with a Dr locally. Not having a GP has a knock on effect on Colchester hospital which is already struggling to meet the needs of the public.
Primary care is not the responsibility of the hospital!
The present GP practice is unfit for purpose and desperately short of consulting space thus preventing the practice moving forward and developing to meet the needs of the residents.
Any housing that is constructed needs to include affordable housing 2-4 bed properties to meet the needs of local people desperate to get on the housing ladder but are presently unable to afford to do so. Smaller properties for the elderly are also needed. 2 bedroomed bungalows and apartments.

Before adding an extra 300 houses in Dawes Lane.. the infrastructure must be put into place first, Doctors, (Who have already stopped new patients) Dentists, opticians, Banks, Bus services, Post Office & Delivery department, School places, water and power services are but some of what is needed before the extra housing is agreed to.
300 house means a minimum of an extra 300 cars on the roads, it could mean an extra 300-400 children.

The Doctor's surgery is apparently closed to new registrations which means that new residents have to go off the island to be part of a medical practice. If we are unable to sustain our current residents how can we justify adding additional residents? There should be a clearly thought out development plan if more houses are being built on West Mersea as the current infrastructure is not able to manage the current population.

I would like to express my views on the proposed new housing for West Mersea.
There are several very major concerns which should be noted :-
1. There is only one road onto and off the island, this is prone to flooding, making access impossible at times and very difficult at some other times.
2. Current medical facilities are already full to capacity, ( the doctors surgery are now taking no new patients at all) ,commitments to increase these have not been achieved.
3. Public transport to and from the island are fairly limited, and also heavily impacted by the flooding of the Strood. This then means no public transport (ie buses) are available.
4. Environmental concerns which would need to be addressed - including waste water treatment issues. Plus there have been failures to carry out legally required environmental impact assessments - these have a direct effect on shellfish and bathing waters.
5. Considerable further impact on an infrastructure which is already extremely strained.
With all of the above in mind, I would be that the plans in question are seriously re-considered.

The proposal doesn’t allow for any increase in the local infrastructure ie Doctors surgery, education, Bus services.

There isn’t the infrastructure on Mersea Island. GP surgery is not taking new patients. Primary school can’t cope. Roads too narrow and restricted. Sewage will not cope. It may mean floods and more sewage in the sea. People will get ill and so put more pressure on NHS. 300 homes means possibly could mean more than 600 more cars. There is only one road off the island. Queues are horrendous at high tides already. The population of the island increases dramatically in the summer when all the camp sites are full anyway. Cycling on the island is now very dangerous. Mersea island cannot cope with more houses.

I do not oppose the concept of development of Mersea Island for the benefit of local people, but I am concerned that the current propasals do not pay sufficient attention to the provision of ancillary facilites for the present residents and those who will be brought onto the Island by the development.
Medical services are not available to the extent required even for the current population; the practice has been obliged to close its list to new applicants, which is already having a negative effect on the saleability of properties to newcomers.
Furthermore, waste managment has become an issue which requires addressing. The water quality around the Island has fallen to the point that seabathing (for residents and visitors) has become a health issue and local fishing businesses have been prejudiced. In addition, it will have - if it is not already having - a negative effect on tourism, which is a substantial contributor to the Island's economy.
Also, the island being periodically affected by tidal flooding, public transport is restricted, which also affects the housing market.

Proposed new housing for WEST MERSEA STRONG OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN
The concerns of the Town council are all agreed
This island, just 5 miles long + 2 miles wide is joined but very strongly.to the mainland by the Strood which floods al the high tides, preventing getting on and oft the Island,
creating lengthy tailbacks of cars. The sewage system is inadequate even at present and raw sewage is being put our to see 4 its vital that Anglian water need to put treatment plants in to deal with these issues, of not Mersea Island will become E Coli Island No further building until this is up to standard. The infrastructure of the island cannot take further strain. No school places, st no medical centre for mereases
No Public transport to speak of, difficulty getting on and off the island at high tides.
In the event of a nuclear incident at Bradwell, it would be impossible to evacuate off the island to safety
No thought has been given to rising sea levels and accelerated coastal erosion and the protection of farmland for the future, food safety levels in future favoured by the government.
There are. caravan parks here which in summer that swell the population by double and further already straining water supply a sewage again! There is a SSSI+ Nature Park which cannot be built on.
My very strong View IS the proposals to build further should be NOT AGREED for the reasons I have given and should be very strongly resisted.
Furthermore the Council should take action to remove the description of the area as being a large settlement and suitable for growth this description is the hierarchy of Town and Villages as a sustainable hub, it needs to be described truthfully to avoid all this frenzy to build where it could not be sustained.
P.S. if a new causeway was built on the East side of the Island it could change things.