Object
Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft
Representation ID: 192
Received: 06/11/2016
Respondent: Ms J A Whiteley
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? No
Object to proposed development in Knebworth. The Plan is not positive, is unjustified and out of sync with the national planning policy to protect Green Belt.
It is not joined up with the Govia Thameslink proposal downgrading the service at Knebworth when the proposed development could add significantly more stress on the train service.
There is no plan to improve road infrastructure or local services. It does not support the existence of Knebworth as a village, increasing population and car concentration by over 30%.
1.Green belt - why is this an unrecognised term these plans degrade not one but three green belt areas in the same village. The National plan is to protect Green Belt
2. Knebworth is already an extremely congested village and cannot support the current road demands. An additional 663 homes means an additional 663 cars (most likely more than that as there is often more than 1 car per household.) The current road system B197 is not suffice currently so it can not support this substantial proposed increase. When the A1 has an issue all traffic heading North or south comes along the A197 and it is a current major problem which will be exacerbated with all these new homes. Like having the A1 running through the village merging with all villagers trying to get to their homes resulting in major traffic jams. This happens freqently. In addition the development lorries and associated traffic of such large new development sites will be an issue for the feeder roads in the village ( A197) . The parking of current homeowners is under stress this additional population increase will be a step too far and will cause major stress in the local community.
3.Schools/ Doctors. Not enough provision for a substantial increase in population. ( estimated 31% increase with no provision of new services, apart from one junior school).
4. Drainage. Adding so much new hardstanding will dramatically effect the ability of the land to absorb water run off and drainage will be affected which will cause local flooding. Are sewage provisions adequate?
5. Why is there such a concentration of development proposed for Knebworth, a 31 % increase makes this a town no longer a village when all the infrastructure is for a village not a town. Also a village is defined as "There should also be a clear green belt or open fields surrounding its parish borders. " This proposal removes three greenbelt areas.
6. Joined up thinking? Not evident. On the one hand plans to significantly expand Knebworth is in direct contrast to the Govia Thameslink Railway 2018 plan for Knebworth- A downgrading of service which states "There'll be no more fast trains to or from London during peak hours" and "all trains will be slow stopping".