EPPING Forest District Council has come in for further criticism as it seeks to fight back over negative comments regarding its latest planning consultation.

Residents in Theydon Bois were angered by some of the language used in the council's latest consultation document for new planning guidelines after it classified their rural village as having a “low to moderate sensitivity to change.”

Theydon Bois Action Group, which criticised the report, has now also condemned the way the consultation is being carried out.

A spokesman said: “Many residents in the district have received these letters in the post, some have received three or four copies, which is a waste of tax payers' money, and many have received none. What was the criteria for informing residents?

“Surely every resident should have received notification of such an important consultation that has the potential to affect us all for the next 20 years.

“Eagle-eyed residents may have also noticed that the online version of the questionnaire has 12 questions whilst the paper copy has 14, which is the correct version?

“We are encouraged to respond online and if we do then our potential responses to ‘Are you satisfied that all sites of international importance have been identified?’ and ‘Do you think that all possible impacts of the core strategy have been included?’ will be unknown.”

The council has now issued a full response to the criticisms regarding its consultation document.

It reads: “The council is currently in the first stage of producing a Core Strategy – an important document that will set out Epping Forest’s spatial development plans and policies for the next 20 years.

“The Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report to which the article of May 25 refers is one of many studies to inform the evidence base.

“The article states that the Scoping Report contains a number of “criteria” that are of concern to residents in Theydon Bois.

“The council would like to make it clear that these are not criteria, they are recommendations made by independent consultants. The report is not an expression of council policy and should not be misinterpreted as such.

“Feedback on areas of concern from local residents and community groups are welcomed by the council and will also form part of the evidence base on which we will develop the next stage of the Core Strategy.

“The Council welcomes the opportunity to engage with the Theydon Bois Action Group and any other community organisations in the production of the Core Strategy and is always prepared to listen to concerns of residents, providing clarification of the planning process where necessary.”