Looking at the masterplan for the proposed Harwich Valley Development it shows a large development that will take some time to complete.

Speaking to people who have been involved with similar sized projects I have been told between two and four years to finish, even possibly longer than that.

I was also told a massive amount of continuous construction traffic would be needed.

Looking through the planning application I found a report submitted on behalf of the environment agencies.

This was very alarming as there does not seem to be any objection to construction traffic using Stour Close and Clayton Road for access to and from the proposed development.

In fact the report stated construction traffic would be allowed along Stour Close and Clayton Road between 7.30am and 7pm Monday to Friday and between 7.30am and 1pm on a Saturday.

For those who are not familiar with the two access roads, Stour Close is a narrow cul-de-sac and Clayton Road is not much wider.

At the top of Clayton Road where it meets Ramsey Road is a T-junction on a blind bend with the ambulance station entrance at that T-junction.

Children walking or riding bikes to and from school use both Stour Close and Clayton Road as it is the only route they can take.

After school and at weekends or during school holiday’s children play along the roads.

The outcome of the planning application is not yet known but I hope those who sit on the planning committees would show enough good sense, and caring in the community to refuse access to construction traffic along Stour Close and Clayton Road.

This allows construction traffic to use the roads has to be an act of reckless endangerment to children and indeed anyone who uses these roads.

Given that a hidden road has already been laid on the site near to the proposed housing development.

So in view of the report submitted on behalf of the environment agencies regarding construction traffic using Stour Close and Clayton Road, could it be that the real intention of the Harwich Valley Development is just to build houses.

Developers have used this ploy for years.

They promise the earth with jobs and all sorts of pie in the sky ideas just to hide their real intentions, “the chaos theory”.

Steve Holmes

Stour Close, Harwich