DISCUSSIONS are to be held to try and get a legal agreement with the developer of Ongar Park Golf Course to limit the number and route of lorries going to the site.

Despite reservations from district council officers, councillors on the Ongar Park Ad Hoc Committee said they felt that even at this late stage of the development, an agreement would still be useful as many lorries were still going through North Weald.

Work began on the 160-acre course in June 2001, and it is hoped all earthworks will be done by September.

Despite this councillors asked officers to give further consideration to asking the developer to agree to a legal agreement restricting lorry movements as they are concerned the timetable could be delayed.

An officer's committee report said a legal agreement might not prove worthwhile.

It stated: "The developers anticipate that all earthworks and grading will be finished by September. As the soil importation and internal movement will last for only another four or five months, the developers question whether a legal agreement could be satisfactorily concluded within this time period."

North Weald councillor David Stallan said: "I still think it's important to try and do something. Once the site is prepared and finished we're still to have the construction of the clubhouse. The lorries continue to come through the village and that's why I would like to see the officers pursue some kind of agreement."

Fellow North Weald councillor Anne Grigg said: "We feel extremely concerned. There are not adequate controls and now we seem to be passing up the opportunity to try and do something.

"My experience has been that many projects are not finished on time and there could be circumstances which mean the importation of soil cannot finish."

The committee agreed to open negotiations again to try and get the developer to enter into an agreement. The committee is also drawing up a new form which any future developer will have to complete, seeking more details of lorry movements and soil importation.

Councillors agreed future developers should be asked to enter into legal agreements before getting planning permission.

10:15am Thursday 5th June 2003

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