It’s easy to accuse people of being NIMBYs (not in my backyard) when questioning the wisdom of very large developments in relatively small towns but I would like to raise some genuine concerns, as the building of 900 houses suggests to me an extra 2,000-4,000 people coming to Holbeach.
I have been on a waiting list for a local NHS dentist for six years with no response and have to travel to Spalding.
It takes seven to ten days to get a doctor’s appointment locally. The proposed new “super surgery” may improve matters but is still some years away?
Shopping facilities are limited, the High Street having many empty shops and too many fast food outlets, bookies and charity shops.
There are very few leisure facilities locally especially for young people.
There are no significant growth industries that I know of locally offering long-term employment.
I could go on but it is obvious the local infrastructure cannot support a 30-50 per cent population increase unless Holbeach is to become just a “dormitory” town for people travelling to Spalding, King’s Lynn or Peterborough for work, schooling, shopping or leisure.
Who benefits? Obviously the builders. The promise of a primary school and a roundabout are just not enough. Also the landowners must be making far more money from selling building land rather than farming land?
I am also very disappointed the planning authorities are being swayed so easily. I know some public consultation did occur but surely every household in Holbeach should have been canvassed.
I’m not sure the sheer scale of the proposed development was made clear to everyone.
Anyway, I feel better for having said something in the sure and certain knowledge it will achieve nothing given our propensity for growth above all and damn the social consequences.
Name and address supplied
