Representation by Karen Briscombe
- Date submitted
- 6 July 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to the proposed relocation of the Cambridge Sewage Works to Honey Hill, between the conservation villages of Fen Ditton and Horningsea. Moving the sewage works about a mile down the road, at a cost of £227 million seems a total waste of tax payers’ money particularly in current economic conditions and climate situation. The current sewage works is operational as it stands and where it stands and was upgraded to last 50 more years in 2015. Karen Barclay of Anglia Water has said there is no operational need to relocate. Why spoil greenbelt countryside with a natural bio-diversity and claim that recreational space can be created elsewhere. This is historic open land and if built over can never be recovered to its natural state. The green spaces were designated decades ago exactly to stop this kind of unnecessary development in the future (NOW) by those seeking to make money and yet still claiming to provide affordable housing that it is debatable local people can actually afford and in the process destroying rich agricultural land and natural habitats (Wicken Fen is nearby) for rare Fenland species. In an age where we need to cut airmiles and road miles on food distribution to really be truly green and grow our own national food and crops to feed ourselves there is more need than ever for prime agricultural arable and vegetable fertile land to be valued and not built over, and for natural and existing recreational spaces to be preserved. In addition, the current move to downgrade the area to a brownfield site appears to be a ruse to get access to grants available for such brownfield site development. Without people understanding that it was once a legally protected green space they may not realise they have been given distorted information if the land designation is changed without proper announcement and consultation in itself. The chalk aquifer presents unique restrictions for building over so trying to dig down would affect the fragile ground and surrounding groun geology. I lived in Cambridge for thirty years and now have relatives in the immediate area and we were always aware that it is a unique, historic area with restrictions on planning for good reasons. We are very concerned that the smell from the proposed new sewage works will greatly impact being able to sit outside and enjoy family time together and community gatherings with a backdrop of stench would be adversely affected. Even walking and cycling in the area as we have done for years and years to get exercise will be severely affected if the air is not fresh but stinking all around. Terms banded about like carbon neutral mean nothing when hundreds of lorries and bulldozers might churn up the area for years, producing harmful pollution, dust and exhaust fumes and chemicals in the NOW and damaging the existing natural biodiversity. The carbon footprint is huge in real terms and that is obvious at the outset. The level of specialist decontamination work in itself would be a huge task and again, if the sewage works are not moved, not even needed. Would any incoming people buying houses be told it was formerly a sewage site and how much irretrievable environmental destruction took place to the beautiful countryside beneath them just to move the sewage works a mere mile down the road. I imagine that piece of information might not be broadcast to any advance marketing to investors and purchasers. Anyone with a conscience and love of our planet earth and the environment would steer clear. Ethical investment is growing so there may not be enough investment support and finance to be relied upon as envisaged in these circumstances. Building on prime green belt land is contrary to both National and local planning policy. The current plans for the sewage works site are high rise and high density housing on land which is mostly flat across to the fens so would be visible for literally miles around. This is totally at odds with the low rise, existing smaller villages and rural communities. Any claims of more office space being needed are unfounded I believe. Post-pandemic company practices and more homeworking have left many existing office sites empty or under-utilised as it is. It appears that there may be a conflict of interest evident as Cambridge Councils and Anglian Water are set to profit alongside the Developers if the (S)Hartree development is allowed to go through. Please read: [Redacted]concerning the “investment partnership” between SCDC and South Cambs. Investment Partnership and the appointed Developers. Moreover, it is on record that in 2017, Fen Ditton Parish Council was advised that Honey Hill had been deemed unsuitable as a site for relocation of the sewage works. An earlier consultation in 2008 also drew the same conclusion. Why keep pursuing a plan to move a sewage works at vast public expense that does not have a valid reason to be moved as it is fully operational as it is and where it is? Thank you for taking these comments into consideration. Karen Briscombe 6th July 2023