1. KB4 added to the plan last year (this version). There was no consultation with residents which it not in line with housing policy. KB4 should not have has been added at this late stage, particularly as it's a key area of land that separates Stevenage and Knebworth.
2. The green belt surrounding Knebworth makes a significant contribution to protecting the space between the village and the surrounding villages and Stevenage. Removing it will likely mean there is a considerable danger of coalescence, destroying the identity of Knebworth. Developing KB4 will remove the green-belt buffer between Knebworth and Stevenage, meaning there is danger of coalescence. 'Structural landscaping and planting to provide and / or reinforce Green Belt boundary to east' is not sufficient to prevent coalescence.
3. Access to KB4 is an issue. Both Watton Road and Swangley's lane are narrow roads and there is insufficient capacity to support traffic to and from 200 houses here. Swangley's lane is very wiggly and it can be difficult for two cars to pass in places and there are blind spots. Watton Road is already a commuter cut through - during rush hour the traffic is usually backed up to the edge of the village. This would become unbearable for the residents of Watton Road if traffic use on this road increased. The plan needs to include new, wider, access routes to KB4.
4. KB4 has long-standing drainage issues, resulting in surface water flooding problems, which the current plan does not address in detail.
5. Developing KB4 will also mean the loss of productive agricultural land.