Developers Target Uttlesford as Tories Back-Track on Eco-Town

8.31.00pm GMT Sat 29th Dec 2007

This is the week when we were advised by the chair of Uttlesford's environment committee to make time to complete the on-line representation about the district's housing and other core development strategy. The consultation period will not be extended beyond 11th January despite many calls for this. Of course, if the Conservative-led Council's preferred option, Option 4 (a new town at Elsenham) is in due course shown to be flawed and a new preferred option emerges around March next year, then the process will have to be repeated. You can take part in the consultation at: http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/

In the run-up to Christmas, and already over half way through the 6-week consultation period, several district councillors were pounding the streets belatedly delivering the consultation leaflet that Royal Mail had failed to distribute. An example was set by the committee chair, Susan Barker, who 'delivered' on her commitment at the December council meeting to get out on the doorstep herself with the leaflets.

Meanwhile, other new settlement options are coming forward in plenty, especially along the A120 both sides of Great Dunmow. There has been a press letter suggestion that Great Chesterford is a better location for road access than Elsenham. Saffron Walden Town Council has backed ElsHenham as saving the district's main town from further growth. There was no mention in the local press about the need of Saffron Walden's residents' own children for homes for themselves. There seems to be a mood to freeze the town in aspic like the traditionalists in Cranford in the recent BBC 1 successful dramatisation of Elizabeth Gaskell's stories!

Just before Christmas a contingent of councillors and the local MP visited Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary, to plead the case for future housing in rural Uttlesford. It is not felt likely that the 9,600 quota will be reduced. There seems to be little expectation that Uttlesford will be awarded an eco-town under the current government scheme, though rumour has it that Fairview have put forward Elsenham/Henham as a local bid. These bids are separate from council proposals so, were Fairview to be successful, the new town would be additional to the 9,600 allocation under the regional spatial strategy and the current consultation.

Not surprisingly, the Conservative council administration - or at least some of its members - is now back-tracking from calling their new settlement idea an eco-town. Does this mean that they now see it simply as a London commuter dormitory town surrounding a railway station that would be less environmentally sustainable than the district as a whole currently is? The answer, if it exists, remains a closely guarded secret.

Those who couldn't face filling in consultation questionnaires on Boxing Day were able to exercise their bodies as well as their minds on a circular walk between Elsenham and Henham. Around 100 people took part. The weather was good. The views were pleasurable and not to be ruined by out of place housing estates. The beer and mince pies at The Crown were greatly appreciated.