Representation by Mrs Antoinette Schatzmann (Mrs Antoinette Schatzmann)
- Date submitted
- 20 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Our client, Antoinette Schatzmann, objects to the Lower Thames Crossing (‘LTC’) proposals which would result in a loss of existing farmland, blight on existing property and, in the absence of a strategic masterplan for the areas affected, create further impacts on the planned growth of South Ockendon (South Ockendon being one of the principal strategic growth locations of the developing Thurrock Council Local Plan). Furthermore, we submit the following outline of the principal issues on behalf of our client, on which we will wish to make further representations to the Planning Inspectorate during Examination: (i) The LTC project has failed to adopt a strategic masterplanning exercise from the outset that should recognise the wider implications of the LTC on existing and future growth plans for South Essex; in particular engagement with landowners to consider how the LTC project could benefit the wider community and mitigate the impact and loss of farmland and land earmarked for future growth has been limited; (ii) The designation of land for ecological mitigation and flood compensation land purposes at South Ockendon and a lack of engagement at a detailed level in this respect; (iii) Additional public rights of way (‘NMUs’) and loss of land for these purposes; (iv) Proposed NMUs (FP136/BR219, South Ockendon) and the potential for unauthorised access to adjoining land and the means by which this is prevented; (v) Use of Medebridge Road (South Ockendon) for construction purposes, its impact on the existing users and the future use of Medebridge Road to support development at South Ockendon and post construction legacy; (vi) Attenuation works to mitigate the visual and noise impacts on existing properties at South Ockendon Hall Farm and future mixed-use growth at South Ockendon; (vii) Environmental mitigation works in respect of ‘The Moat’ at South Ockendon Hall Farm; (viii) Impact on access to land and property outside of the LTC development boundary during construction; (ix) The requirement for a permanent right of access to South Ockendon Hall Farm from the LTC safeguarded area to the east; (x) That Medebridge Road and the Moat area are revisited in terms of the permanent land and access requirements as currently the proposals will likely prohibit future development in this identified growth area; (xi) That Medebridge Road and its junction with the A13 should be upgraded to a major haul road permanently (i.e. not just during the construction period);