Strong Community Support at the Epping Town Show
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Epping Society enjoyed a vibrant and successful day at the Epping Town Show on Sunday 5 July, where glorious sunshine helped draw an excellent crowd of residents and visitors.
Our stand welcomed a steady stream of people eager to talk about the issues shaping Epping’s future. We were pleased to be joined during the day by our Member of Parliament, Dr Neil Hudson, and the Town Mayor, Councillor Razia Sharif, both of whom spent time speaking with volunteers and listening to residents’ concerns.
Planning Control and the Designation: A Major Talking Point
One of the most frequent topics raised was the impact of Epping Forest District Council’s Designation, which has resulted in the loss of local planning control. Many residents voiced deep concern about what this means for the future of the town and how it affects their ability to influence decisions on major developments.
A large map displayed at our stand illustrated the scale of proposed development across Epping, highlighting sites that could deliver around 1,500 new homes. Visitors were particularly worried about the cumulative pressure such growth would place on already‑stretched infrastructure—roads, schools, healthcare services and the Green Belt. Traffic congestion was repeatedly identified as one of Epping’s most pressing challenges.
South Epping Masterplan: Concerns Over Barwood Land Proposal
A significant number of conversations focused on the Barwood Land planning application within the South Epping Masterplan area. Residents expressed astonishment that a development of up to 270 homes is being proposed without any meaningful improvements to the local road network, despite long‑standing congestion, pressure on key junctions and concerns about public transport capacity.
The proposal’s reliance on a single access point opposite a primary school was widely regarded as unacceptable. Many felt it would worsen existing traffic problems and raise serious road‑safety issues for children and families.
A Strong Showing of Community Engagement
The Epping Society would like to thank everyone who visited our stand, shared their views and took an interest in the future of our town. It was heartening to see such strong community engagement, and we remain committed to ensuring that residents’ voices continue to be heard as these important planning matters progress.
Please consider joining or donating to the Society by using one of the links below. It only takes a few minutes and as a voluntary organisation we rely entirely on membership and donations to keep going. Thankyou very much.
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