Since election to Babergh I have become aware of the Haven Gateway. This is the name that has been given to a region that incorporates parts of Essex and Suffolk that are grouped around the Orwell Estuary. The phenomenon was first brought to my attention when we went on a bus tour of the eastern part of the District within weeks of last May’s elections. I have to say that at that time I was enthused by the idea of a series of vibrant towns linked by ferries, rather like Boston harbour in the USA.
I am writing about this now since the area was one topic at Tuesday’s Members’ Seminar, and I was struck once again by how much impact this region, designated a ‘Growth Point’ by the Government, could have on us here in and around Sudbury.
Concentrating on Ipswich and Colchester, but incorporating some eastern parts of Babergh and the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, the aim is to provide 50,000 additional homes and 50,000 additional jobs in the area by 2021. Scarce Government money will be poured in, in part to provide infrastructure (of which of course there is never enough). The area will enjoy what have been described as ‘green transportation ‘policies, which largely seemed to mean making sure that containers from the docks go by train rather than road.
This ‘green’ emphasis sits rather uncomfortably with the wish of the Haven Gateway Development Group to attract a vast amount of tourism to the area, which of course includes some of the beautiful Suffolk heritage coast. Looking at the Haven Gateway website I note that it is anticipated that some of this tourism will be represented by passengers from cruise ships docking at Harwich. Potential visitors are being urged to visit Suffolk villages of pink washed cottages, and to embark on a Constable and Gainsborough Tour taking in Dedham Vale and Sudbury. As a Trustee of Gainsborough’s House I await the tour buses with great enthusiasm. However, having been on small Caribbean Islands when the monster cruise ships come into port I am filled with misgivings. Perhaps most of the punters will make their way to the bright lights and shops of Colchester or Ipswich instead?
The impact on Sudbury is hard to assess, and a question must be to what extent involvement with the project should be sought? Money for much needed infrastructure might of course be forthcoming, but with money inevitably comes an obligation to accept even more development. Ultimately the very character of the area could be compromised.
Questioning how far Sudbury should actively engage with The Gateway reminds me of the pros and cons of membership of the European Union. Europhiles argue that we must take an active part in Europe so as to be able to influence the decisions that are made there. Europhobes, and I have to confess that I am among them, are happy to give up this influence if it means being left in relative peace to paddle ones own canoe.
I expect to be writing about this at more length in the future.
