Draft Letter to Use as Model to Respond to Lake Farm/Botwell Common Planning Application

Thanks to everyone who came along to the candle light vigil last night at Lake Farm. Lots of people are writing in to object to the Council’s planning application to build on our Lake Farm Country Park and Botwell Common. People have asked for a draft letter of objection which they can model their own on.

This is a basic draft that you may find helpful.

Dear Jean Palmer,

Planning Application reference number 68911/APP/2012/2983.

I am writing to object to the Council’s planning application to build a school on Lake Farm Country Park/Botwell Common.

Lake Farm/Botwell Common is an immensely important green belt, public, open space located in this densely populated urban area. 

This green belt land is critically important to local residents who use it for recreation purposes and enjoy its bird-life, biodiversity and natural environment. 

The proposal to develop this site has caused consternation and uproar in the local community that such a much valued community asset is under threat.

Developing this site will deprive local residents of a local park that we have all enjoyed for many years. It will threaten the diverse wildlife, bird-life and fauna of the area and will result in a considerable loss of amenity.

Building a school on this site will increase traffic on the already congested local roads, where there is an existing proven risk of road accidents.

In addition it will increase pollution in an area which suffers from high levels of air pollution.
There is no justification for building on a green belt site when other sites are available in the area. 

I do not believe that the council has undertaken a proper search and assessment of sites as alternatives to building on a green belt site. This is evidenced by the fact that whilst it was supposedly looking to identify a site for a new school in the area, the council sold off for housing one of the most suitable sites near to Lake Farm/Botwell Common,i.e. the former swimming pool site.

I also do not believe that the council has justified the need for a new school on this site given the current expansion of a number of existing schools within the area and the plans now in process for the new primary schools at Guru Nanak Sikh School, Rosedale College, and Hewens College. The council has failed to take account fully not only these expansions and new school plans but also the uptake of places at schools that have alreday expanded within the borough.
For all these reasons I strongly object to this planning application and urge that the Planning Committee reject this application and preserve our green belt country park.

Yours,

Send your letters by 8th January to Jean Palmer, Director of Planning, Civic Centre, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW. Please quote the planning reference number. You can also comment and submit your objection by going onto the Council’s website and its plannig section.

Please urge as many of your family, friends and neighbours to write in to object to this threat to our environment.

Thanks
John