OVER-DEVELOPMENT in Colchester is creating an unfortunate fly-wheel effect.

The more we build, the higher our housing target.

In the last ten years, Colchester has built more than every other district in eastern England and the population growth has extrapolated forward.

We build more, without supporting infrastructure, while our cannier neighbours build less.

Now government rule changes next spring will result in even higher targets.

Colchester needs to use the six month window to revise the numbers downwards before submitting the Local Plan.

This is both legal and practical, but our council shows little interest in slowing the flywheel.

The 4,700 people on the housing waiting list and key workers promised homes in the garden cities by Paul Smith will be disappointed.

Higher targets do not bring the affordable housing these people wish for.

The focus should be on those in real need, not the vanity project of building the biggest new town in the country.

Council borrowing of millions of pounds for garden cities is unnecessary.

Even a fraction of that money, however, would make a significant difference to those who most need it, if spent more effectively.

Rosie Pearson Secretary
Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex
Pattiswick