You may or may not have seen the March Issue of Theydon Bois Village News. You will note that on page 34 a resident has written Blunts Farm Planning Application An Alternative View. We are surprised that TBPC have allowed an article to be printed in the Village News that contains so many inaccuracies, and seems to be quite a personal attack on not only the members of TBAAG but more importantly residents in Abridge.

Granting planning application EPF/2195/06 is not the only way to fill the pits. The developer has imported 1.7 million cubic metres of 'spoil' onto the site, there is no evidence that any material has ever been exported from the site. According to the EFDC survey the void volume is 206,000 cubic metres. There is more than enough material on site to fill the voids. Stephan Solon, the Enforcement Officer in charge of the new application, has confirmed that there is nothing to stop the developer from filling the voids with material on site.

Has anyone asked the developer to fill the pits from materials already on site, because he can?

The new application seeks to import a further 48,500 cubic metres of spoil to fill the voids and another 24,000 cubic metres of top soil or a 'suitable alternative', and fine construction materials. That equates to 32,000 return lorry movements through the conservation area that is Abridge, and along the Abridge Road. This importation could nett the developer another £600,000 on top of Sir John Harman's estimate of a total profit to date of between £15-£20 million. 

So granting this new application is not the only way to fill the pits, but it is a good way of making some extra cash.

TBAAG was formed as the fight for Theydon Bois Youth Club was coming to an end. But I am sure we would be happy to help in any way we can. However we would like to ask what was TBPC doing when the Youth Club was first closed, which we believe was some years before the land was the subject of a planning application? If TBPC want youth services so much why did it recently donate £5,000 to Essex CC in helping them with their road surfacing budget and not donate that money in helping to reopen the Youth Club?

As for monthly litter picks, many of our members have confirmed that they often pick up litter about their daily business around the village. Does Mrs Buission attend the monthly litter picks?

TBAAG also support TBPC in many planning issues, and have provided them with the substantial research we have done on this application and many others. We have many Abridge members and have received many letters of support from both Theydon Bois and Abridge residents.

If anyone wants to view the plans we have a full set that can be viewed at our meetings, if anyone wants to come to a meeting please email theydon_bois_action_group@yahoo.co.uk and we will send you details of our next monthly meeting. 

As for Blakes Golf course, their other course in the area, we feel it is difficult to compare the two club houses directly. Blakes is not in a residential area and is not located next to a tube station. Blakes Golf course advertises ' a stunning restaurant with a choice of dining facilities' open from Wednesday until Saturday evening and lunches on a Sunday. They also offer live music on a Friday, the 'View Bar' offers food and drink all day, every day.

They also offer meetings, conferences and weddings. They offer Marquee catering and can seat 260, with ample parking. Meeting and conferences 'from an informal departmental lunch to an energetic team-building exercise, International conference, board meeting, trade exhibition or “brainstorm”, Blakes offers the perfect location to get the most from your corporate hospitality budget. With rooms to accommodate almost every size of function – and superb event management, catering, audio-visual resources, entertainment and theming opportunities.' They also offer catering 'from formal, four-course meals to informal buffets and barbecues.'

The Blunts Farm / Parsonage Golf development also includes accommodation for members!

So we reiterate do the people of Forest Drive want weddings, marquee's and barbecues happening every weekend at the end of their gardens? Do we want people travelling by tube from East London to Theydon Bois for a night out at Parsonage Golf, because they will !

There is no way this application can start immediately, the developer has yet to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment report, and we are still months away from the application being heard at EFDC.

But what he could do if he so wishes is to fill the voids with material already on site, and he could do that immediately. EFDC have no power to make him do that but they will not stop him if he does. The quickest way to get the voids filled is for the developer to do it voluntarily. We wonder if the three councillors, including Mrs Buisson's father, asked the developer to fill the voids as a matter of urgency when they met before Christmas?

Please read the plans and make a judgement for your self, but this developer should not be able to hold residents to ransom over the safety of our young people.