COUNTRY PARK
'Country Park'
There is, of course, a proposal to develop a country park adjacent to the site in an already green, unspoilt area of countryside. Aside from disturbing natural wildlife habitats in its landscaping, the new 'country park' will have light and noise pollution from warehouses operating 24 hrs a day in the adjacent fields. The proposed dam to alleviate flooding, if deemed necessary, would also mean waving goodbye to around 50% of the country park
(see 'Flooding'). This is nothing more than a 'sweetener' to the development plans, and an empty gesture.
One of the biggest issues regarding the country park is that no consideration has been given to where visitors will park when they visit. Access, by foot or for cyclists, will be mainly over the bridge from Old Stratford - this will lead to more parking on Old Stratford roads, with no parking at all for access from the Cosgrove side.
In their latest submissions, the developers have returned to a previous plan of creating a ‘wetlands’ area in the vicinity of the Dogsmouth Brook, presumably to solve the issue of water released from the Flood Storage Area directly above. It is unclear how much this wetlands area will affect levels in the River Great Ouse, but as this land lies higher than the river it will inevitably drain into it - once again a concern in times of heavy flooding. There is also the question of how much pollution from lorries on site will be washed into the brook and this new wetlands area.
Furthermore, the developers' ecological survey of the warehouse site’s open mosaic habitat has revealed many rare and threatened invertebrate species. Their solution is a proposal to relocate this habitat to the country park. This is wholly unrealistic, and will take years for the ecological habitat to recover.
'Country Park'
There is, of course, a proposal to develop a country park adjacent to the site in an already green, unspoilt area of countryside. Aside from disturbing natural wildlife habitats in its landscaping, the new 'country park' will have light and noise pollution from warehouses operating 24 hrs a day in the adjacent fields. The proposed dam to alleviate flooding, if deemed necessary, would also mean waving goodbye to around 50% of the country park
(see 'Flooding'). This is nothing more than a 'sweetener' to the development plans, and an empty gesture.
One of the biggest issues regarding the country park is that no consideration has been given to where visitors will park when they visit. Access, by foot or for cyclists, will be mainly over the bridge from Old Stratford - this will lead to more parking on Old Stratford roads, with no parking at all for access from the Cosgrove side.
In their latest submissions, the developers have returned to a previous plan of creating a ‘wetlands’ area in the vicinity of the Dogsmouth Brook, presumably to solve the issue of water released from the Flood Storage Area directly above. It is unclear how much this wetlands area will affect levels in the River Great Ouse, but as this land lies higher than the river it will inevitably drain into it - once again a concern in times of heavy flooding. There is also the question of how much pollution from lorries on site will be washed into the brook and this new wetlands area.
Furthermore, the developers' ecological survey of the warehouse site’s open mosaic habitat has revealed many rare and threatened invertebrate species. Their solution is a proposal to relocate this habitat to the country park. This is wholly unrealistic, and will take years for the ecological habitat to recover.
Country Park - Reasons to Object
- A Country Park where there are already open fields! The existing natural environment will be disturbed to create something that is already there
- The proposed Flood Storage Area and dam to alleviate flooding would also mean waving goodbye to around 50% of the country park
- Developers propose creating a ‘wetlands’ area to solve the issue of water released from the Flood Storage Area directly above, which may also contain pollutants. Calling this a 'Country Park' is a misleading and outrageous name for a flood mitigation scheme.
- The wetlands area lies above the River Great Ouse, so may well affect flooding in the area
- Attenuation ponds’ will be used all year round and reach capacity at times of flood, The Environment Agency have unanswered questions on the capacity of the ponds and their ability to retain the water
- There is no parking for the Country Park and limited access, which would increase parking on Old Stratford roads
- There is no long term plan for who will manage the park in perpetuity
Website of The Furtho Development Objection Group
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