Representation by Donald Trevor Wildman
- Date submitted
- 17 July 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a resident of Milton Village, I object to the current proposals for the relocation of the Cambridge Wastewater Plant from its current site for a range of reasons. Anglian Water have stated that there is no operational reason for the relocation of the works which have been upgraded. The purpose of the planned relocation is to facilitate the development of an area of high-density housing and commercial buildings with minimal parking and limited green space in NE Cambridge which would only be separated from Milton by the A14. I believe therefore that it is pertinent to consider the impact of such development on the local area when considering the relocation plan. - Related development comments – The design of the development assumes significant improvements to public transport and a successful modal shift away from car usage. Finance for the transport improvements is largely dependent on the introduction of a congestion charge which is opposed by a significant majority of survey respondents to consultation earlier this year. Also, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has supported calls for the Cambridge congestion charge plans to go "back to the drawing board" which casts further doubt on the viability of the plans. If predictions and assumptions about minimal car use in the NE Cambridge site are not borne out as occupancy develops, there will be a negative impact of displacement parking in Milton. Milton is already inconvenienced by displacement parking from employment sites adjacent to the proposed development south of the A14 and this is likely to get worse. The proposed NE Cambridge development also over-relies on the existing Milton Country Park which is already very busy. Adding over 8,000 new residencies without significant addition green recreational space will have a significant negative impact on the quality of life for residents of Milton and destroy the identity of Milton as a separate entity to Cambridge and diminish its village feel. - Site selection The initial site list for consultation included non-greenfield sites. However, the selected short list was made up of three greenfield sites. I note that the non-greenfield sites that were considered were rejected primarily on grounds of their cost, that made them unaffordable from the available funds from the Housing Infrastructure Fund that is being used to finance the relocation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. It seems that sites that were discarded in the earlier sift caused less environmental impact but required longer tunnels that would incur higher cost; whereas the three short listed sites have a more severe impact on the Green Belt but have been accepted on grounds of lower cost. The option of creating a modern, low impact works on a smaller footprint at the existing site does not appear in this consultation. I believe that it is not acceptable to proceed with a green field development simply on the grounds of convenience and cost. The relocation proposes use of a prime green field site which is a local beauty spot which cannot be replaced. I believe that three of the five purposes of Green Belt defined in the National Planning Policy Framework are relevant in this case. They are (a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas; (b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another; (c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; In addition the provision of a Wastewater treatment plant does not appear to fit any of the list of possible exceptions and so should be deemed inappropriate for construction on Green Belt. All three of the shortlisted sites effectively enable the extension of Cambridge into the surrounding countryside and so should be rejected and more attention given to the use of brownfield options from the original list of sites that can support the requirement albeit at additional cost to the developers. The current proposal does not show how the current site would be decommissioned and cleaned up before developers start building the new Northeast Cambridge development. The decommissioning strategy appears to be to “wash down and isolate” the existing sewage works when the move takes place, but that the water company would “leave structures such as the terminal pumping station and various pipes and tanks in situ” and this is unclear how this had been accounted for in the Environmental Impact Assessment. This could result in the site being left for many years if the clean-up does not meet required standards for building to start. I have concerns about the impact on local roads of additional HGV traffic both during construction and in future operation of the site. The proposed changes to J34 of the A14 are not adequate in my opinion not least because all traffic leaving the proposed site is routed on a minor single lane road with many vehicles routed by a right-hand turn onto the A14 and back to the Milton Roundabout on the A14/A10 junction. This change of flow will have an adverse effect on the capacity of that junction. A new access point from the A14 should be given priority should the scheme go ahead. I note also that Cambridgeshire County Council have said it wants to see the issues it has raised resolved before any consent is given for the project. I urge the rejection of the proposal in its current form.