Codicote Neighbourhood Plan 2024 - 2031 Submission

7 Infrastructure Policies Comment

7.1 Infrastructure Objectives

7.1.1 The objectives relevant to this section are:

Objective 7 To ensure infrastructure improvements are sympathetic to the rural setting of the village.

Objective 8 To alleviate the existing parking problem in the village, especially the High Street and feeder roads, and the impact on pedestrian safety, disabled access and traffic congestion.

Objective 9 To minimise the impact of traffic generated by new developments on air quality, congestion, delays and safety within the village, especially the High Street and at key junctions, prevent cut throughs on country lanes and misuse by HGV's.

Objective 10 To improve the frequency and accessibility of public transport.

Objective 11 To improve the uptake of active travel modes, on foot, by bicycle and by horse, ensuring easy, attractive and safe access to the village centre and amenities.

Objective 12 To ensure the capacity of all essential power, water, and connectivity services can accommodate demand and are future-proofed as far as possible

7.2 Highways

Traffic Congestion in the Village

7.2.1 The roads in Codicote are already heavily congested, especially in the morning and evening rush hours. Ongoing housing developments both within and outside the village, that feed in to the main arterial highway, the B656, have contributed significantly to the continuing increase in traffic volumes through the village. The High Street is particularly badly affected with traffic flow along its length impeded by cars parked on both sides of the road, both day and night. This reduces road width to a single lane at several points resulting in considerable congestion. The impact of this increased traffic south of Codicote crosses both parish and district boundaries and should be considered at Hertfordshire County Council level when considering planning applications for major housing proposals.

7.2.2 Heavy Goods Vehicles are a particular problem often bringing traffic in the High Street to a standstill. Residents feel aggrieved that having reduced the number of HGVs driving through the village following a successful campaign against the illegal actions of the local quarry, planning permission (18/01726/FP) was granted, with conditions, for the construction of a concrete batching plant on the B656 between Codicote and Hitchin. This plant is now built and operational.

7.2.3 There are few employment opportunities within the village itself and the majority of residents of working age commute to work away from the village, or work from home. Access by road from the village to nearby towns, villages and local train stations, either by vehicle or bicycle, is mainly via narrow, poorly maintained and often hazardous, potholed roads with an abundance of blind corners (see also 3.2 Demographic Profile of Codicote Parish)

7.2.4 The continuing increase in the volume of traffic using the B656, has several causes. The simple increase in the number of cars on the road is a contributory factor. The B656 through Codicote, is the main arterial feed between Hitchin and its surrounds, and the A1(M) intersection at Welwyn. The continued failure to widen the A1(M) north of Junction 6 to three lanes, with the resultant grid locked traffic on the A1(M) for increasing periods either side of the weekday morning and evening rush hours, adds to traffic on the B656 still further as many drivers use the B656 as a cut through to and from the Hitchin area, to avoid the stationary traffic on the A1(M).

7.2.5 Planned housing developments off the High Street in Codicote and particularly at the bottom of the High Street with access from Cowards Lane could greatly exacerbate the long term congestion problem. The impact of increased numbers of cars in the village is discussed further in 3.2 Demographic Profile of Codicote Parish. The parish survey illustrated that residents feel strongly that the rapidly increasing problem with congestion in the village, and the High Street in particular. The failure to implement solutions is creating a wider traffic problem in the High Street.

Figure 13: Congestion in the High Street

Air Quality

7.2.6 Given the level of vehicular activity, including a significant numbers of HGV/HDVs driving regularly through the village, residents have for some time been concerned at the level of pollution this traffic is causing and the resultant health issues. In April/May 2018 a survey was conducted, of the levels of NO₂ at 20 sites around the village using detectors provided by Gradko Environmental.

7.2.7 Analysis revealed that 7 detectors sited along the length of the High Street recorded levels of NO2 consistently above 30ug/m3 with a maximum of 35.86ug/m3. These figures were below the EU Air Quality Directive which identifies an annual mean value of not greater than 40ug/m3 for NO2. The results represented a snapshot of the air pollution for the place and time the survey was carried. Collection tubes were active from 26 April 2018 till 18 May 2018. The results are available in Appendix P– Nitrogen Oxide (NO2) Analysis 2018.

7.2.8 However, the impact of a around 20% more vehicles (see 3.2 Demographic Profile of Codicote Parish)in the village from the housing developments under construction and planned, plus the predicted annual 7,000 HGV/HDVs travelling to and from the concrete batching plant to the north of the village on the B656, could well increase pollution in the High Street to levels above these EU limits. The health of Codicote residents and particularly children and the elderly, could suffer. Future noise and pollution assessments should include the impact on residential properties, particularly those facing the High Street, at ground and upper floor window level.

Parking in the Village

7.2.9 Most of the dwellings in the High Street have no off-street parking. Residents are therefore forced to park on both sides of the High Street itself. To enable through-traffic to continue to pass, many cars now park part-on and sometimes, completely on the pavement. This makes it difficult for pedestrians to use the pavement and often makes it impossible for those with pushchairs, or wheelchairs, or mobility scooters to pass, forcing them into the road. This problem has been discussed further in The Codicote Design Codes and Guidance Appendix D.

7.2.10 There is now little space for delivery vans parking to drop off and passing trade customers for the local shops to park, with a potentially detrimental impact on their business. Where vehicles do stop then further congestion results, especially if these vehicles are HGVs. Building sites on the High Street will further impede the flow of traffic where vehicles delivering building materials are unable to park off-road.

7.2.11 Limited off-street parking also exists in several of the village side roads. This further adds to the general level of congestion within the village outside working hours. It causes 'parking overspill' into the High Street and forces residents to park too close to junctions. This is hazardous for pedestrians and restricts visibility, making it difficult and potentially dangerous when pulling out, especially into the busy High Street. Further congestion arises on those roads used for school children drop off/pick up.

7.2.12 The parish survey illustrated that residents feel strongly that the uncontrolled and largely haphazard parking in the High Street must be addressed, and solutions put in place before any development is allowed to proceed. No solution to off-street parking has yet been found but this is a key priority in the Neighbourhood Plan Project Plan (see- Project Plan Appendix E).

Public Transport

7.2.13 There is a reasonable train service from the nearby stations at Welwyn North, Knebworth, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage to London Kings Cross and the north (Peterborough and Cambridge). There is also a frequent service from St Albans and Harpenden to London Blackfriars and St. Pancras (and on south to Brighton via Gatwick airport) and north to Bedford via Luton Parkway (airport). However, there is no regular bus service to these rail stations, necessitating the use of private cars or taxis.

7.2.14 Car parking capacities at both Welwyn North and Knebworth stations are inadequate to meet existing requirements and are usually full early on during working days. Car parking at Stevenage station is nearing saturation. The car park at Welwyn Garden City station is currently the only one that has spare capacity.

7.2.15 Bus services in Codicote can be easily summarised as very poor. There are no services in the evenings or on Sundays, and those weekdays services are infrequent and not matched to residents' requirements, such as travel to and from local railway stations. Although the doctors' surgery in Welwyn is experiencing heavy usage with extended waiting times for an appointment, access to Welwyn's services must continue to be available by public transport, and be improved, to avoid unnecessary car journeys and the further impacts of traffic congestion.

Footpaths

7.2.16 Several off-road footpaths cross the Parish and pass through the village itself. The Hertfordshire Way, a 195 mile circular route along public rights of way within the county of Hertfordshire passes through Codicote and the Ayot Green Way, a rail trail from Ayot St. Peter to Wheathamptead, passes nearby. Whilst these footpaths do connect off-road with the nearby villages and hamlets of Rabley Heath, Nup End, Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Ayot St Lawrence, Ayot St Peter and Kimpton, there is a lack of a direct, off-road footpath to the closest, and larger, village of Old Welwyn, where there are a greater range of facilities including doctors, dentist and shops as well as public transport bus services. The Rights of Way Map can be seen in Appendix

7.2.17 There is little interconnectivity between footpaths. Many existing footpaths end at junctions with public highways that have no pavements (e.g. the B656 towards Vanstone Park). This not only impacts upon the enjoyment for walkers but also presents a hazard to pedestrians due to the proximity of vehicles and increased air pollution as they walk along the main road. In some areas, to avoid walking on dangerous roads that have no pavement, unofficial footpaths have been created through frequent use linking with the designated off-road footpaths.

7.2.18 Many of the B classification roads in the Parish (St Albans, Rabley Heath Road, Kimpton Road, Heath Road & Bury Lane) do not have pavements so pedestrians are forced onto grass verges and banks to avoid the passing traffic. Some Ordnance Survey listed footpaths are not well maintained and can be dangerous for walkers. Dog fouling and rubbish on footpaths remains an issue.

Figure 14: Public Footpath Codicote 002 and LGS6 (Whitwell Road Wood)

Cycle Routes

7.2.19 There are cycle routes to be included within the new estates at The Heath and The Vale, but with no linkage to the centre of the village. The 121 mile 'Great North Way' National Cycle Route 12 traverses the Parish along Rabley Heath Road, Cowards Lane and St Albans Road towards Wheathampstead. There is also a documented cycle route following the Mimram Valley through the Parish in 'Twenty Cycle Rides in Hertfordshire' by Hession (1993). Cycling in the Parish is mainly for pleasure rather than for commuting to work, a reflection on the distance the village, which is the main centre of the parish population, is from the main employment centres and local railway stations, plus the poor maintenance and volume of traffic on the roads. Issues experienced by cyclists in the parish include pot holes, overgrown verges and blocked drains, lack of cycle racks near shops and services, and passing heavy goods vehicles.

Bridleways

7.2.20 There are over 15 known equestrian livery sites within the Parish boundary providing stabling for between 2 and 40 horses, which are used for leisure, competition, and some commercial purposes. The rural setting of the Parish is conducive to horse riding as a leisure activity. However, during the past decade the number of off-road riding facilities within the Parish have diminished. This, combined with the increased volume and size of vehicular traffic using the local roads, has led to a heightened safety risk for both horse and rider, and hence reduced opportunity to explore the area on horseback. New housing developments have reduced the attractiveness of some Bridleways which are no longer through the countryside.

7.2.21 It is of note that there are no permissive bridleways across Rabley Heath to the East North East (ENE) of the village, Potters Heath to the East or towards Three Houses Lane (footpath 32/39) to the North. There are six bridleways identified on the Public Rights of Way Map (reference HCC map of include Parish Online version). Issues experience by horse riders include limited off-road riding opportunities, conflicts with walkers through using cross country footpath, obstruction of passing places on narrow lanes.

LCWIP and RoWIP

7.2.22 The North Hertfordshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) August 2023 final report and appendices is hosted by HCC. This includes walking and cycling improvements in Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Royston and Knebworth. The next formal revision of this document should include audits and infrastructure improvement plans to routes, to and within Codicote.

7.2.23 Local Authorities must review their Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) every 10 years. In Hertfordshire, the review ofthe current planis due in 2027. Opportunities to improve Rights of Way in Codicote could come forward through this review.

7.2.24 The current parish infrastructure: electrical, gas and water supplies, sewerage and surface water drainage, have for the most part served the parish well over the past 40 years, during which time the village has expanded significantly. However, there has been an increasing volume of evidence that these systems are now not only showing signs of deterioration due to age, but more importantly, are reaching their maximum handling capacity.

7.2.25 In England, the regulations require that the average water usage be no more than 125 litres per person per day unless the planning permission for the home has specified that this needs to be reduced to 110 litres per person per day. In the situation of excessive extraction rates on the rare and delicate chalk stream running through Codicote, there is justification to require the high standard/lower water consumption rate be achieved.