Press Release November 28th 2006

Press Release –

Lt. Waltham Outer M25 Action Group. Meeting November 28th 2006

A four figure sum was spontaneously pledged by members of the Lt. Waltham Outer M25 Action Group on Nov 28th immediately to appoint legal Counsel to challenge the Chemsford Borough Council on aspects of the Local Development Framework .

The meeting filled Memorial Hall as invited members of communities in Broomfield, Lt Waltham, Barnston, Chatham Green and beyond engaged in discussions about the proposals for thousands of new homes in Broomfield and North Springfield.

The stealth-like actions of the Essex County Council in not disclosing the plans for a Lower Thames Crossing, which reluctantly we support, and the real nature of the massive new road systems planned for the area, including the A130, was a source of much dismay and anger. Most of what is happening now was shown to be available in The East of England plan published in December 2004.

Because of the frustration of the meeting, it was spontaneously proposed and agreed from the floor to raise a legal fighting fund. We expect that to grow substantially as its existence becomes known more widely. One purpose of the fund is to stop Chelmsford Borough Council compromising the Essex County Council and Governments’ transport plans with an irrational development North East of Chelmsford. We need to know why Boreham Airfield, a Brown-field site and able to accommodate the entire development in one single sustainable community, is not even an option for Consultation. We only support A130 Route D as consulted on in the summer 2006.

A telephone poll of area residents showed overwhelming opposition to the Chelmer Valley cross-link proposals which will result in the spoiling of the Green-Wedge, proclaimed for generations as carrying a presumption against development.”

Further information contact:

Lt Waltham Outer M25 Action Group Chairman – Peter Loose on 01245 362 295

Email peterwloose@compuserve.com

Blog http://a130-chelmsford.blogspot.com/

Route Options as at November 20th 2006

Supplied by Essex County Council

Braintree to Marks Tey - Upgrade A120 - NEWS

A major upgrade of the A120 Braintree to Marks Tey road is planned.
This may have an impact on traffic flows on the A130 - A131 around Chelmsford.
See these links for more information:

A Map of the general route ideas:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4183.aspx

News Update from Essex County Council on the Consultation and Results Announcement date.
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4182.aspx

A130 - A131 - Chelmsford North East - Route Options

The route option proposals to upgrade the A130 and A131 are here. Click on the link and then go to the right hand side of the web page to the column headed "Related Documents".
That lists all the route information available.

http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/guc.jsp?channelOid=16819&guideOid=32956&guideContentOid=74157

Essex Chronicle November 10th 2006

Lower Thames Crossing

Report on Page 3

The Lt Waltham Outer M25 Action Group are pleased to be cited by Peter Baker in relation to the possible new Lower Thames Crossing.

However the report in The Chronicle is a few sentences edited from a 1,400 word carefully reasoned letter dated October 18th.

Here is our conclusion exactly as set out on October 18th.

It seems to us in the area of Lt Waltham and beyond, that there are some key factors to hold uppermost in our discussions if we want a fair & balanced outcome:

These are not simple problems to solve. Dialogue is essential.
Local traffic and national traffic should be separated – on grounds of safety for all.
National Roads should have the minimum of entry and exit points.
National Roads should be kept as far away from the population as possible.
National Roads are most effective when they are the shortest distance between two points – the Romans knew that 2000 years ago. It saved steps then – it saves fuel now.
Compensation for loss of homes should be generous – it is a sacrifice for the population as a whole.
Old areas of land, already to some extent spoiled by historical developments such as Boreham Airfield ( a brown-field site?), should be used for development rather than intruding onto green areas.
Green-Wedges should be preserved in perpetuity.
Village life should be enhanced, not undermined by huge traffic flows as an unintended consequence of developments elsewhere.

Essex County Council A130 Consultation Results - Route D Preferred.

The Chelmsford North-East Study Consultation results are announced and favour Route Option D.

However, there is much more being planned. A new Option E, not consulted on earlier (Summer 2006) is being considered. This appears to be designed to link to a Cross-Valley Road to Broomfield.

Surprisingly, the consultation reports the Cross-Valley route to be supported by the public. We find that a remarkable response. All our phone polling of scores of residents shows that more than 90% are vehemently opposed to any Cross-Valley road.


http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/ned.jsp?oid=85236

Are you aware of Essex County Council’s proposals for:


A new Chelmsford to Braintree Motorway

A dual-carriageway bridge across the Chelmer Valley

A new Lower Thames Crossing?


Do you realise that 3 of the 4 possible A130 routings involve dualling the existing A130 / A131 including moving part of the Essex Regiment Way closer to the Village?


If you live in Barnston, Boreham, Chatham Green, Ford End, Lt. Waltham, Broomfield or Chelmsford you will be affected.


Can you imagine the effects this will have?

• Traffic Flows - up
• Heavy lorries - up
• Noise pollution – up
• Light pollution – up
• Chelmer Valley - destroyed
• Property values – down
• Environment – ruined
• Quality of Life - down
  
  …. For generations to come.
  
  To view the proposed details: Go to http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/ and then use their 'Search this site' facility. Enter "Chelmsford North East Study" and select match 'exact phrase'.
  
  
  In addition to this there are proposed road closures at:

Back Lane
Wheelers Hill East
Chatham Green

This means:

Villages on the A130 - Barnston and Ford End - will suffer huge damage caused by heavy traffic flows through the village as rat-runs from Chelmsford to Stansted and the M11. It's bad now. It will get worse.

Increased traffic coming through Lt. Waltham village centre and onto Broomfield Rd.

Little Waltham hemmed in by busy roads on all sides.

Worse still – because of the study into a new Lower Thames Crossing, this new dual carriageway will become part of a grand new Outer M25-style road with potential for widening to three lanes.

Traffic flows today average about 200,000 every day over the Dartford Crossing.
Expect a lot of that to be using the new A130 within ten years.

And that is why we are adamantly opposed to Routes A, B & C and support Route D as by far the most viable, least harmful option.

Published by:
Little Waltham Outer M25 Action Group.
Chelmers, Little Waltham, CM3 3LX

Chelmsford North Action Group (NAG)

A130 Chelmsford Essex