A month in the life Development Officer’s Report - July 2021 Here is a brief digest from Sue Dobson based on her July report to the Committee, which gives a flavour of the work she carries out month by month. As you will see, she has many projects under her remit and continues to do sterling work for the Essex Bridleways Association.
Braintree: Kelvedon Neighbourhood Plan – I responded to this during the month. As usual for these documents there isn’t much to go on but it is important that we keep up our profile. I attended the Braintree Local Plan Examination hearing which was held virtually via Teams – useful as whilst I was waiting my turn I could carry on with other work – and I put our case to the Inspectors. Hopefully it had the desired effect. Stebbing Neighbourhood Plan is currently out for consultation and I will respond to that during August. I also responded to the Longfield Solar Farm consultation as mentioned last month. Castle Point: following on from our discussions with Essex Highways along with Marlene Curtis (for BHS) I received a letter confirming that there will not be any access for horse riders within this particular scheme. This is an initial part of a bigger
scheme and we intend to look at that in the future. The main item on the wish list is a crossing of the A127 on the western side of the interchange which would join up two historically-severed bridleways but this is outside the scope of the scheme at this point. Chelmsford: I attended the North Chelmsford Garden Community Masterplanning workshop which aims to look at what is required over and above the housing need within this huge development. This will be ongoing with another planned on 15th September. More from me in due course. Colchester: West Mersea Neighbourhood Plan is currently out for consultation and being worked on at the moment. Other issues: I was fortunate enough to be able to meet (virtually) the newly-elected Portfolio holder for Highways and Sustainable Transport at ECC - Cllr Lee Scott - whose remit includes PRoW’s, along with Cllr Sue
7 Cllr Lee Scott
Lissimore (his Deputy) and the overall Head of PRoW Liz Burr who worked many years ago with Katy Haines (former EBA Chair) and also knew Deirdre Graham, the founder of the EBA. The meeting only lasted 25 minutes but we did cover a lot of ground; I have since emailed him and thanked him for his time; he has replied that he looks forward to working together. As usual, if anyone has any questions or anything to add on the above, please let me know. I look forward to meeting you at the AGM in November. Sue Dobson.
