Hoo Development Framework

Strongly disagree

I like the idea of the Shared user bridges. I think there could be more shared user bridges introduced along the A228 as this would definitely ease traffic flow. I think there needs to be more detail on what the retail/food beverage areas would look like. Adding additional sports facilities would be good. But perhaps current facilities could also be improved/upgraded and expanged. Putting a football pitch next to a wildlife area seems to me like a recipe for trouble. But definitely think more sports areas would be a good idea. The Infrastructure existing currently in the area is barely sufficient for current residents. Increasing housing and industry in the area will add further strain upon this. Such as medical, dental, education, fire safety, transport and emergency access. Currently if the A228 is closed it means no emergency services can gain access as there is only one route in an out. Adding a train station will not help. As this will only take people to Gravesend. People do not want to go to Gravesend to have to change there. They want direct trains to London or to Strood or Rochester. Which they will not be able to do. And even less to have to go to Gravesend and then get another train back to Strood or Rochester. So as a result people will get in their cars and add to the current traffic already in the area and leach off currently overwhelmed facilities. It is hard enough to get an appointment to see a GP currently. With more people moving in this will only get worse. This goes for education, work etc. Due to the building of out of town industry such as Amazon. More wear, tear and strain is already on these roads. How about upgrading the docks already here to be able to compete with ones such as Tilbury. How about supporting farmers and building a local supply resilience in produce and agriculture. How about an agricultural school and apprenticeship training schemes to help support young people to go into this area of work and other helpful skills such as plumbing, painting, carpentry etc. We have AC Gothams crying out for workers but supermarket prices mean they cannot afford to pay workers a living wage. Farmers would not be selling out to projects such as this if they were not already strapped for cash. How can we support the fantastic farming in this area. How about supporitng local farm produce. Subsiding it so locals could afford to live and eat more healthily. Pluse reducing carbon emissions. How about tree planting schemes and subsidies to farmers to encourage biodiversity. None of this is even mentioned or looked at in this framework. I notice in the framework there is a healthy living centre. What is this? How will this help? How about a doctors surgery or a mini hospital? Something that could take pressure off Medway hospital rather than adding to it. This area is a green lung for the Medway Towns and for London and so will increase pollution and therefore reducing the health of the people in this area. Wildlife will be adversely affected. As the areas proposed for community parkland are actually wildlife areas currently and people already access these areas and enjoy them. Plus enjoy that there are wild areas in the area that are not destroyed or affected by an increased number of people running their dogs loose on them. Having more housing in this area will just put more pressure on these areas.