The destruction and reallocation of the Green Belt land undermines current Green Belt Policy and a quick reclassification of this area does not mitigate the fact that the plan uses Green Belt land contradicting at least three of the fundamental principle of green belts - 1) prevent neighbouring towns merging, as the proposal joins settlements together into a type of Ribbon development from Hitchin to Baldock 2) Nor will it check the unrestricted sprawl of built up areas 3) it will not help preserve the special character and historic character of Baldock town centre.