You want to save Castle Point from ruin and protect the green belt, but you wonder what can you do to help?

There is plenty that can be done and many residents have spent years getting involved to help our community of Castle Point.  Here are some thoughts:-

• Research the issue thoroughly to find out what the real threats are to the green spaces of Castle Point
• Respond to consultations from the council that seek your views on planning matters
• Look out for planning applications seeking to build on green belt and use the opportunity to comment and object on the council website
• When opportunities arise sign worthwhile petitions on the appropriate issue. Make sure the petitions are useful and accurate
• Maybe there is a peaceful protest you can attend
• Perhaps you can email your MP, or local councillors with your concerns
• Certain pieces of green belt land have been under threat of development for many years, try and learn the background history. Knowledge is always helpful.
• Tell friends and neighbours about the issue
• If you are on social media perhaps you can comment online about the issue to raise awareness
• At local elections make sure you vote for candidates that genuinely want to protect Castle Point from ruin and protect our green belt. Regrettably many national parties claim to care about this issue but frequently their actions do not match their words

IMPORTANT



This beautiful green belt land was REFUSED planning permission for 455 houses by the Independent run council.  This land stretches from the Rayleigh Road, behind the Fire station/adjacent to Sainsbury’s, and runs along the Daws Heath Road ending close by to Little Havens Hospice. It was known as HO13 in the Conservative Local Plan and they had allocated it for development. When Independents took control of the council the Conservative plan was withdrawn. The property developers were apparently not pleased with their planning application being refused so have appealed to central government to get the decision overturned. This appeal takes the form of a full-scale public inquiry which will last several days. Hopefully interested residents, that are able to, will attend and observe proceedings. By doing so they will show the government inspector the strength of feeling against this development in the community.



Appeal location: Council Chamber, CPBC, Kiln Rd, Thundersley, Essex

IMPORTANT!

Developers apply for permission to build housing on green belt in Benfleet

The Battles to Save Castle Point

Some earlier battles to save green belt in Castle Point

Battle Lost to Save the Green Belt at Solby Farm, Daws Heath, Castle Point - 2016

Solby Farm was a stables situated on Green Belt in Daws Heath, Castle Point. As well as a place for horses some temporary caravans were stored there. This was a battle the developers won with the help of the casting vote of a local councillor who at the time was chair of the planning committee. There is now a housing estate built on this green belt.

See below an extract from the local newspaper the Echo, 7th Dec 2016

Battle to save JOTMANS Green Belt land from development Victory for residents - 2013-2017

Many attempts have been made to build on the beautiful green belt land at Jotmans/Land West of Benfleet. On 21st April 2017 we have the clearest signal that this green belt land is an "inappropriate place for development", from the Secretary of State in central government.



June 2021 - Article in Echo Newspaper - Protest to protect Oak Tree in Hadleigh

"A PROTEST was held by a “beautiful” oak tree over fears it could be cut down as residents “came together in solidarity” to oppose further development.

The community rallied together in a bid to save the oak tree in Poors Lane, Hadleigh after nearby Oak Tree Farm was included as a site in Castle Point’s local plan.

Pulling the tree down if homes are built has been touted, with a report stating “in order to improve access of Poors Lane, it will be necessary for the oak tree to be removed”.

Residents, who have been left furious at the potential loss of nature, gathered by the loved tree on Sunday.

Tim Copsey, who organised the protest said: “The oak tree is a symbol of the wider problem that Castle Point faces in that there’s an attack on the green belt.

“It symbolises standing up and protecting what the community values. We want to defend our green belt. It’s all part of a much bigger campaign.”

Castle Point resident, Johanne Deverrick said: “Community spirit is very much alive. “We will fight developers and the local plan all we can to not let them cut down this beautiful oak tree which they say is in the way of a secondary entrance they want into a planned development on greenbelt.”

Lisa Stevens, who has lived in the area almost all of her life is urging the council to revise its local plan.

She said: “The gathering in Poors Lane was to ensure the protection of the oak tree, which represents the strength of the Castle Point community to fight the destructive local plan.

“The problem to the developer is that it stands right at the gated entrance of the beautiful ancient woodlands, where if the local plan goes ahead, this will instead become the entrance to a large housing estate, “Our message is loud and clear, the council need to revise the local plan to ensure we all can continue preserve the greenbelt and open spaces that many of us cherish and make regular use of.

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BBC News also sent a film crew and presenter to the protest to cover the issues raised.

August 2015 Article in Echo Newspaper

When considering the campaigning to Save the Green Belt that has happened over the years it is important to mention the great efforts of the Canvey Green Belt Campaign chaired by Graham Bracci.  They have raised a constant voice for the protection of green belt over many years and they have shared many good articles on their online Blog.

Timeline of The 2019 Con Castle Point Local Plan - From the brink of disaster to WITHDRAWAL

This information is given in good faith and apologies for any errors and omissions. This is a resident’s perspective on the process of the Conservative backed 2019 Local Plan that was put forward for Castle Point covering period of 2018-2033. The Local Plan identifies the number of and locations for houses, jobs and businesses. The Local Plan also includes planning policies and sets boundaries for where development can occur.

·        October 2019 a majority of Castle Point Councillors led by Conservative Council Leader N Smith vote in favour of putting forward a Local Plan that has been prepared under the influence of the controlling Conservative group of castle Point councillors (All Canvey Independent councillors vote against).

·        December 2019 Public consultation (or lack of). A letter is sent out to “some” residents of Castle Point (not all I and many others did not get one) just before Christmas. Apparently, it was in an unmarked envelope so many people would assume its just junk mail and not open it anyway. The letter gave no clue as to the huge changes planned in the Local Plan just was a formal notification style letter. The letter gave notice of a period of a few months whereby the public could submit their views/objections to the Local Plan. In order to see the plan the letter advised viewing on the council website, visiting a library or council offices to view documents. No OFFICIAL public meetings held at the time where the public could ask questions about the Local Plan. To the best of my knowledge there were a couple of unofficial meetings held where residents discussed the Local Plan. The mechanism to submit feedback on the Local Plan was complex so in the end the public were allowed to send a letter or email. All of this on the basis of the limited numbers of members of the public that knew what was going on. Some of us were alerted via friends posting about on Social Media.

·        The Local Plan is a huge document with many extra supporting documents that covers various aspects of the local area for the years ahead. The aspect that will probably be of most interest for most residents is the housing plans. In brief the council has assessed its housing needs for the area up to 2033. It has calculated the already densely populated (yet static population) of Castle Point needs 5367 new homes being built on various sites throughout the area. Some of these new housing estates to be built on brownfield land and around half of this number on green field green belt. This would have a devastating effect on the character of areas, the wildlife, the environment, congestion, infrastructure, local services, education, policing, etc etc. For example the impact on the green belt of the Daws Heath area is truly horrendous with three green belt greenfield sites scheduled for destruction in the Local plan to be replaced by housing estates. (Daws Heath Road 455 homes, Brook Farm 173 homes, Oak Tree Farm 65 homes).  A Local Plan has the power to reclassify greenbelt land into building land which is why it is crucial that a Local Plan is sound and legal otherwise the effect on an area can be devastating.

·        October 2020 Castle Point submit the Local Plan to The Secretary of State and an Inspector is appointed to conduct a formal Examination of the Local Plan to see if it is legally compliant and sound. There was subsequently a change of Inspector. All the public views that had been submitted to the council were passed to the Inspector for his consideration during his examination. The inspector raised various initial questions and then a more substantial list of 359 queries for the council to answer. 

·        March 2021 – Conservative Council Leader N Smith resigns as council leader and councillor for “pressing business demands”. He had been found guilty of two breaches of paragraph 5(a) of the Code of Conduct of the Authority in an in-depth formal enquiry into wrong doing.

·        May – June 2021 The Inspector conducts Hearings on various different aspects of the Local plan. Those people who submitted views are the only people allowed to take part or submit written statements.

·        May 2021 Local Election to elect councillors. Crucial opportunity for the public to vote for candidates that share their opinion of the Local plan. Outcome that PIP (the pro green belt independents) now has 4 councillors elected. They share a common goal with the CIIP councillors on Canvey to protect green belt.

·        March 2022 Inspector delivers his verdict on the Examination of the Local Plan. He makes suggestions for modifications to make it compliant, sound plan. The entire Local Plan making process has been concluded and the Local Plan found "Sound" by the Government Planning Inspector.  Note at this point the plan is not a work in progress that could be paused but a Plan awaiting a council vote to ADOPT or WITHDRAW. The first councillors vote on  this matter on the 23rd March resulted in a decision NOT TO ADOPT the plan.

·        May 2022 Local Election took place and  Conservatives lose control of the council and CIIP and PIP form a new administration with a clear mandate to withdraw the local plan and to construct a new one with smaller housing numbers, protecting green belt and building on brownfield previously developed land where possible.

·        June 2022 CPBC councillors vote at a council meeting to WITHDRAW the Local Plan on 15th June 2022.  This vote was preceded by a comprehensive report by the lead officer relating to the Local Plan that explained the consequences of the vote.   This included a warning that attempting to pause a decision on the plan would leave the council vulnerable to the Secretary of State using Section 21 powers to take matters out of the councils hand and force the Adoption of the sound plan.  After the vote to withdraw  council officers were instructed to start work on a new Castle Point Plan that seeks to benefit the community’s needs.