I objective based on the following issues :

1. The land is high grade green belt and Government policy is to protect Green Belt and develop Brownfield land first.

2. Given I live next to the site I witness 1st hand the local wildlife – birds, deer, badgers, owls, bats, foxes within this development, the development will be detrimental to this wildlife, the ancient woodland/trees that are in and around this proposed site.
3. The narrow rural road network cannot take further development, the roads are already overloaded, we regularly see queuing traffic, and now not just at peak times. Due to size of Dickens heath we are now seeing more large format vehicles – lorries, vans and the roads struggle already.
With more development will come more cars and increased road usage and logically this queuing traffic will increase - as a result I am also increasingly concerned about air pollution and the impacts on health – and that there is no plan or consideration for this issue.
4. The proposed site is mostly in flood Zone 1, these fields flood every winter, and when there is a particularly heavy rainfall – this area mainly consists of bolder clay that restricts permeability. With increased development the removal of trees I am concerned that flooding will increase.
5. There are numerous sports fields included in this development - this reduces the access to activities that keep people fit physically and mentally - effecting local children and adults who play rugby and football on these fields. We should be protecting and encouraging sports in age where fitness is more important than ever. In the plan there is no confirmed replacement for these.

6. On the grounds of sustainability, many of the mitigation measures included in the plan are not achievable, therefore it isn’t sustainable. Other sites are more sustainable.
7. The character and setting of Dickens Heath as a village will be adversely affected and sense of community and identity compromised. There are strong, definable boundaries to the existing Village being the canal and the woodlands and ancient hedgerows – this development will expand the village – to the point where it merges with other surrounding villages/towns & other surrounding developments.