I am writing with regard to the proposed development of 1,000 plus houses on the Middlewick Ranges.

I created the Facebook page Save the Middlewick Ranges in 2016 following the announcement by the Government it was to sell the ranges for housing.

This page is a non-political page and is for the communities and the people of Colchester who wish to preserve this area of natural beauty.

Middlewick is an ancient site.

Examinations have taken place by Wessex Archaeology and through these it has been stated remains found there are from as far back as Neolithic times at least.

This land has been left unchanged ever since the Ministry of Defence were gifted it by the Crown in the 1800s.

The public have certainly had continuous access to this land since times before that.

As a result of this, the wildlife, flora and fauna has made the site one of the most important wildlife sites in the the area for biodiversity and its relevance cannot be denied.

In the endless push by the authorities and agencies concerned to build housing on the Wick, and make money from the site, something has been forgotten or ignored.

This site is precious to Colchester. Its value is of special importance to our next generation of Colcestrians.

Our town, or city, whatever we choose to call it, cannot survive if we destroy the valuable green spaces within it.

There are huge amounts of wildlife on Middlewick, so huge that green or wildlife corridors as suggested by some political groups, could not even save a tiny amount of what is present on there.

Can we possibly justify this amount of destruction to future generations when there are ample brownfield sites?

We have been warned time and time again about the effects of destruction of our environment.

This is a prime example of that.

I believe the Ministry of Defence, Colchester Council and Essex County Council are rushing ahead making preparations for the sale of the land and the development as we speak.

We, as a group, and as communities living alongside Middlewick have not been kept abreast of this or included in any of the decisions that must be ongoing.

We are being ignored and encouraged by councillors to go straight into dealings with developers, who we know will only be after a profit.

The sale of this land is Government led, but I would ask all the parties concerned to think about what they are red stamping.

There are communities involved who are very much against this sale and development.

Listen to us and look at what you are actually planning to do.

It will benefit no-one other than yourselves.

We, on the other hand, have a lot to lose and most of all, future generations may not thank you for the destruction of such an ancient site of biodiversity.

Stephanie Murran

Colchester