Ashwell

Ashwell is a historic village that was never built to cope with the demands of todays traffic and infrastructure. The village is already bursting with traffic and cannot cope with more. The drainage, school, pathways and road system will not sustain additional development without losing the character of this village.

The following comments relate to overall approach to housing set out in NHDC's Proposed Local Plan. Separate comments are given in relation to the proposed Local Housing Allocation on Land West of Claybush Road (AS1)
1. NHDC's overall approach fails to meet the Soundness criteria. In particular, it is not Justified - since it makes no reference to the three alternative sites identified through the Parish Council's draft Neighbourhood Plan. In this way, NHDC has fallen short of the provisions of the Localism Act (2011) - in spite of the clear reference to Neighbourhood Plan on page 7 of the Local Plan, as enabling 'local communities to shape development in their area.'
2. In addition, NHDC's approach is not Consistent with national policy, in that it is not addressed the following requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework:-
'Where potential harm to relevant natural or historic assets may occur, consider this against the public benefits that may arise from any proposed development.'

I wish to register my concern that although Ashwell Parish Council identified the need for small, affordable housing within our existing village boundary, and in spite of the fact that suitable building sites were identified to suit the needs of the young and elderly in particular, and they comply with the quota, you have chosen to completely ignore the wishes of our village on this very important matter.

To extend our existing village boundary without our wishes, in order to presumably build, is undemocratic. To allow building to take place on such an unsuitable site is beyond belief. Vehicle access to Claybush Road has already been deemed unsafe. Pedestrian routes to the village from any point is positively dangerous, especially for the young and elderly who need level ground and safe pavements on which to walk to school and the village centre. Also, the proposed site extends to Arbury Banks and would therefore adversely effect our historic environment.

In view of the above, I consider the proposals to be unsound as they do not meet National and NHDC planning policy on highway safety; unjustified, when more suitable sites within the village boundary have been suggested by the parish council; ineffective in terms of satisfying village housing needs for the young and elderly and inconsistent with Nation Policy regarding Highway safety and the need to protect our historic environment. I therefore ask that you reconsider your proposals and comply with the democratic wishes of the majority of Ashwell parishioners.

We should like to make an objection to the soundness of the NHDC Local Plan for Ashwell.
These objections can be summarised as follows:
* Site AS1 fails to meet the requirements for highway safety to protect pedestrians and other road users as defined in both National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and NHDC's own current and emerging planning policy for Highway Safety (Policy T1).
* Site AS1 fails to meet the requirements to protect valued landscapes. The site is within the North Baldock Chalk Uplands Character Area and development is restricted under National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and NHDC's own local planning policy, both current and emerging.
* Site AS1 fails to meet the requirements to protect the historic environment. The site is within the setting of the scheduled ancient monument Arbury Banks and is protected by NPPF and NHDC policy (SP13, para 4.151).
* NHDC has failed to consult on the proposals to extend the settlement boundary in locations other than AS1 (within which there would be a presumption in favour of development; Policy SP2) and has not responded adequately to previous representations.

Please consider these objections before putting forward plans that will have such an unacceptable impact on this environment.

I would like to express my support for the proposed boundary changes to Ashwell as a logical extension to the existing village. We have lived in this village for 18 years and both our sons have grown up here. The housing available to young people in this area is very limited and so our children cannot afford to settle here. I feel that it is important that a village such as Ashwell encourages a diversity of population and recognises that without growth, the services we have cannot be viable and will be lost. When we moved to Ashwell the village had a bank, post office, greengrocers and Indian take-away, all these have now gone.

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