Bill Rammell has this week written to the Planning Inspectorate urging them to reject the planning appeal submitted by travellers for The Meadows site on Waltham Road in Nazeing. The travellers are
appealing Epping Forest District Council’s rejection of their application for a change of use on the land to enable them to establish a site for up to 44 traveller caravans accommodating 22
families.
Bill Rammell had previously made representations to Epping Forest District Council urging them to reject the application earlier this year and opposed a similar, albeit smaller application for a
site on Waltham Road in 2002. He has now written to the Planning Inspectorate urging them to uphold the Council’s objections and reject the appeal.
In his letter of objection Bill Rammell made clear that:
• The site falls in metropolitan green belt and there are no "special circumstances" in the application to justify a change of use;
• The proposed development would be harmful to the openness of the Green Belt and the character and appearance of the countryside;
• The application is of substantial size and would add to existing problems with the local transport/road system as well as create unacceptable pressures on public services such as the village
school
Speaking after sending in his submission, Bill Rammell said, "I have made clear to the Planning Inspectorate my strong objections to this appeal. Epping Forest Council was in my view well within
its rights to reject this application. The size and scale of the site would have a detrimental impact on the community and I’ve long made clear locally and nationally that the Nazeing and Roydon
area already has more than its fair share of traveller pitches and in the interests of the local community we shouldn’t have to have any more."
"I met with the Council on Friday to discuss the issue and I’ve received a number of letters from constituents who live nearby who are very concerned about the impact on their community if the site
goes ahead. The Planning Inspectorate must recognise and respond to local concerns on this matter. I’ll continue to lobby against it until we get their decision."
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