Whilst I support the concept of further house building in areas such as Baldock, the means of delivering this set out in the local plan are not appropriate.

The increase in size of Baldock (the smallest of the towns in the area) is disproportionately larger than that proposed for other towns in the area, such as Hitchin and Letchworth.

Infrastructure must be protected and enhanced before construction commences. The threat of the loss of train services to Baldock, which are already at capacity at current levels, must be ended for this plan to be workable; this number of houses cannot be built at the same time as the train service is slashed. The likely increase in traffic to Baldock will surely overburden already 'at capacity' parking and road use levels in the town centre.

Baldock is a great place to live and it should shoulder some of the burden of our need for more housing. However, infrastructure issues must be solved before construction commences. I have not been persuaded that the current plan provides for suitable infrastructure improvements to meet the demands that will be placed by the proposed increase in Baldock's population.