The Rollason Way Saga … DOESN’T just include the parking …

You know, I’m sorry to have to say this …

But I’m still thinking Councillor Joan Holmes may have to step down.

I really do.

You see, after sending her the email, the other day, about the now extended plans for the development on Saint James Road … ?

I got a reply.

One I’m still not happy about.

As you may know, I sent her this mail, after hearing she’s voted in favour of the extension to the planning application on Saint James Road.

To put not to fine a point on it … ?

I asked her to stand down.

But I thought I’d tell you about the reply I got.

Here …

Dear Mr Downie,

In response to your email I would reply as follows:-

I did speak on the subject, of course I did. I asked a number of residents whom were interested in this application previously what their thoughts were for me to pass on. I was advised by them that they would rather see an office block than more flats in the area. They are intelligent people and realize that we are in an economic meltdown at this time and there are lots of available office space in Brentwood at the moment. They realised this block would probably in the short term not get let so to delay the build for a while and continue to enjoy the green space for as long as possible was the preferred option. This is what I told the panel. NOT MY VIEWS BUT THOSE OF RESIDENTS. You may not be aware but I represent nearly 3,000 homes in Brentwood West and I have always represented THEIR views NOT my own.

I think you also need to get your facts straight before making judgments. I don’t know where you got your information from but I did not vote on this subject. I am not on the planning committee so cannot do so. The panel made their decision and went along with the officer recommendation although I did stipulate that if this building was delayed then the roadways and paths must be completed as soon as possible and not wait to which the panel and officers agreed. If you had let me know your views I would have presented those also but as you did not I can only go on the information I have from my residents. You say in your email I’m informed that you spoke on the subject, and said that residents in the area are broadly in favour of the development going ahead. This is also untrue as I said they were in favour of it being delayed as there is always the slightest chance that it will never be built at all. The build will go ahead anyway as it has planning permission and the amendment to the application was to delay it further until market conditions improved.

I understand Cllr Baker has been in touch with what we have achieved as an administration and I cannot list everything I have done over the last ten years but would say I am not afraid to stand up against my own party for the good of the people and have done so on a number of occasions, most recently to save our Fire Station which incidentally our two County Councillors for the town have so far not done.

I was also the first person in the country to call in a license for review, namely the Sugar Hut and imposed 58 conditions on them before they could reopen and continue to monitor them with the police. I have visited and spoken with every single business in Brentwood and Shenfield and will do the same in Ingatestone in a few weeks time. I have also helped residents in reducing council tax, getting rehomed, liasing with social services and housing associations to get conditions improved as well as helping out with the elderly and the youth projects. I have tackled anti social behaviour in the area by accompanying the police around the town at night and have also been out with the Interceptors and their ANPR. I also campaigned and got the 20mph here and the bus running through Clements Park so that people can get to the Doctors Surgery.

I won’t bore you with anything further but I would say you do not know me nor the things I have achieved in my life and for so many residents in Brentwood not just my own ward and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Kind regards

Joan Holmes

Now, I can’t speak too much about how many residents Councillor Holmes consulted.

However!

I do know that, at the planning committee meeting where I spoke against the flats being built, I managed to stress the fact that some of my neighbours had quietly told me they felt emergency-vehicle access, here on Rollason Way, was iffy to say the least.

As I told the Councillor in my reply …

Councillor Holmes, I’ve got to confess, I still feel surprised.

You’ve said — in this email — that you’ve spoken to those who “whom were interested in this application previously what their thoughts were for me to pass on”.

And, given that I was the only resident to speak out against the flats at the relevant planning meeting, and that you’ve had me email address for some time … ?

I am surprised, and offended that you did not send me a courtesy email — if you were not prepared to knock on my door, in person — to ask for my thoughts on the subject.

As you can tell … ?

I’m against: I know the plans include a large parking area, but — however many spaces these may include — I’m also still convinced that there will be overspill onto the already congested Saint James Road area.

As you may be able to tell from the photo I took, this morning … ?

That overspill — however many jobs it may bring to the area — will not be a good thing for the residents of Wharf Road, Saint James Road, or Rollason Way.

And given that the office block opposite the proposed new block has only two parking spaces … ?

Is inevitable.

As you know … ?

As you know, my main concern has been with fire engines being able to get to our part of the area. As things stand, I still feel they won’t: and am aware of at least ONE other person who feels as I do.

I still feel that way, whatever is built of that patch of ground, will not be good for your constituents.

And will ask once again, Councillor.

You have misrepresented at least one of your constituents: When will you be stepping down as a result of this?

Now, I should maybe stress here, that I’ve picked up a few things.

For starters, I know that a woman called Georgina agrees with me, and wasn’t afraid to say so.

Thanking you, Georgina!

Now, I’m told that that any fire tenders could gain access to the furthest end of Rollason Way through one of three routes.

One would, of course, be through Saint James Road.

Now, that’s congested enough, I think. And I’m very aware that the already finished block of offices — at One, Saint James Road — only seem to have two parking spaces attached to them. The rest — that the ramps lead to, in the second set of photos — are for customers of the Premier Inn in what used to be Alan Sugar’s HQ.

Another of them would be through the patch of green at the end of Wharf Road: something I personally feel would be doable. But extremely difficult, in an emergency: after all, a fire engine would have to get through Saint James Road, first, or through the even more congested Chase Road.

I’m also told that a fire engine could — potentially — come to that end of Rollason Way, through Huberts Road: the bug blue gate, in that bottom picture.

Which sounds more doable.

But given it’s still a construction site … ?

Well …

I’ve got to ask one thing.

Just one.

Is what would happen if a fire took place, right now, at the other end of Rollason Way.

Well … ?

Would what happen … ?

I don’t know.

I do know all it would take to start a fire is something simple.

Like an overheating chip pan to be dropped …