We feel the number of dwellings proposed are too high for this location both in terms of their proximity to the A1M (its busiest sectiion between Junction 6 and 7, and the consequential impact on the village, its existing and future residents.

No account appears to have been taken for the number of vehicles each dwelling will have and the effect of this increase in the village.

Knebworth Village is already severely impacted by poor transportation planning, extremely heavy road traffic through the village and the peripheral roads.

Knebworth Village is served by a relatively small railway station which also caters for commuters from surrounding villages and, also Stevenage. I understand commuter usage through Knebworth Railway Station had increased 70% in the last ten years. Access to the Railway Station is through Station Road/Park Lane. KB4 is going to contribute both further infrastructure and transportation problems to this area and for the future residents of KB4.

We also believe that KB4 is an assault on the Green Belt which has clearly contributed to the continuance of local fauna and flora in the area, contributed to defending, albeit on a small scale, the local environment from the impact of the increased traffic and its consequent pollution through Knebworth Village.

Schooling, health and social amenities will all be impacted by a development of this size. Primary schooling in the village is already stretched by both Knebworth children and children from other villages. Secondary schooling is non-existant and children travel to Stevenage or Welwyn Garden City for their continued education.

An increasing young population will only exacerbate what is already a poorly provided area. This Local Plan does not provide, in any coherent way, for this growth and the negative impact on the Village infrastructure, its residents, environment and local habitat.

While we are not, per se, against the building of new dwellings we believe the numbers proposed are significantly higher than the Village needs or can manage. This Local Plan for Knebworth Village in its current form is therefore unacceptable and should be significantly reduced or rejected.

This Local Plan must include a comprehensive review of the existing transportation links and whether it is future-proofed to sustain a development such as KB4. Nothing in this plan suggests it looks beyond the building of a high number of dwellings other than to meet a target and tick a box.