KW1 Land west of The Heath, Breachwood Green

I strongly object to the inclusion of the KW1 site on the Heath road, Breachwood Green as part of the North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) Local Plan 2011 - 2031 and believe the proposal is not justified, effective or sound for the following reasons:

1) The KW1 site is Green Belt land. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (written in March 2012) states the following:

"New Green Belts should only be established in exceptional circumstances, for example when planning for larger scale development such as new settlements or major urban extensions. If proposing a new Green Belt, local planning authorities should demonstrate why normal planning and development management policies would not be adequate."

Building upon the KW1 site is not an 'exceptional circumstance' due to the fact that alternative sites exist within NHDC which are not on Green Belt Land, for example in Preston, St Paul's Walden and Whitwell (note, within North Hertfordshire 62% of the land is not Green Belt land). Furthermore, the KW1 site is proposed for a private development of market value homes and therefore does not meet the need established for 12 units of social housing.

2) Breachwood Green has no doctor's surgery, no shops, a local primary school that cannot be extended and a limited public transport system which is already at capacity for children travelling to school. As stated within the Sustainability appraisal of the NHDC local plan, KW1 is an 'isolated site which would be poor in terms of accessing local services and facilities'. Furthermore, the report also states that an 'increased population is unlikely to encourage new business in the area'.

3) The KW1 site is not derelict unused land, unlike other sites in KWPC; for example where Darley road meets Church Road in Breachwood Green. Instead it is used by the families of the Heath on a daily basis as allotments and as their gardens which their own properties do not offer. Not only is the land worked for fruit and vegetables, but for many it is the only immediate safe green space that their children can enjoy. The community that has built up between the neighbours of the Heath is centred around the ability to socialise on this green and open space next to their properties. Consequently providing an alternative allotment away from the resident's property is not considered a suitable alternative. It is not a sound and justified plan to build on land which is used by so many families when there are suitable alternatives available.

4) The KW1 site is agricultural land grade 3, including hedgerows, and an abundance of wildlife. As Green belt land it has an important role in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment of further dwellings. Further housing will also cause an increased amount of road traffic (including commuters) onto an already very busy Heath road, which has inherent effects on the environment.

5) Significant upgrades would be required to the waste water and drainage system around the Heath due to the fact that the system is already operating near full capacity (as identified in NHDC planning constraints matrix).

6) The KW1 site is under the Luton Airport flight path which provides significant noise disturbance and pollution that will only increase with the current expansion of the Airport.

7) Dwellings immediately adjacent to site KW1 generate a disproportionate volume of traffic and parking for a narrow road. The additional burden of vehicles resulting from development of this site would unreasonably exacerbate the danger to pedestrians and hazard to road-users on this route through the village. Access and egress between the site and the existing road would involve a blind corner of the busy road through the village. With limited public transport available for the village, air pollution will inevitably worsen. Many of the roads in and around the village are single track roads which are poorly maintained with many potholes, the road infrastructure is not adequate enough for an increase in vehicles.

8) The proposal of up to 16 houses is a large development in comparison to the size of the land and the number of properties currently located on the Heath. It appears that no consideration has been given to the current residents of The Heath whose homes would be built close to thus obscuring natural light, views and privacy.

9) During the King's Walden Parish Council meeting held in Breachwood Green on 8th November 2016 all councillors were asked why the Parish Council had previously supported the NHDC local plan and they confirmed that they did not know and would consequently be re-evaluating their position.

10) As stated within the NHDC Green Belt review, further building on the KW1 site and infill of Breachwood Green would "change the character of the village as a whole". This change is not required and not wanted.

The statements made within this letter clearly identify why the NHDC local plan is not just justified, effective or sound in proposing to build on the KW1 site.

There is a lot of local opposition to this site being used for housing. The allotments are a valued community asset, particularly for the families who live in the houses which back on to them. Losing this space would seriously affect their quality of life and sense of community. Other allotment holders who do not live on The Heath have worked their allotments for years, so simply reallocating them would not compensate for all the hard work and expense they have put into them.

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Could I please state my disapproval at the proposed plans to build on the allotments at Breachwood Green designated as KW1.

The land is a well used plot with mature allotment plots that have been there for years.

As well as this has any consideration been given for the increase in road traffic and the state of the road infrastructure?

There are a number of other unused plots to the west quite close to this site that could be used - have they been considered because they are just empty field plots? All that is needed is a small access road along side the allotments.

I'd like my concern to be noted regarding the proposed development of Breachwood Green.
I am nowhere near satisfied that there are no brownfield sites available to meet the required housing obligations that the council has. You as a council are totally obliged to be developing these sites as priority over destroying the country's green land. Brownfield sites already have the infrastructure to take the extra residents and their vehicles along with the already present public transport provisions that are just not available in a village such as Breachwood Green. If the council COULD prove to residents that allotment land had to be lost FOREVER, then there are far more suitable sites to lose rather than peoples valued community assets and all the wildlife in them which we adore.

To use such sites is lazy and obtuse planning. Development of land, such as what is available in other areas of the county, would show more thoughtful and considerate planning. There are many sites with only agricultural land by them on roads that are wide enough to take the traffic and that are leading directly to motorways and towns such as Harpenden; why would you clog our village up with more speeding traffic and take away our allotments both at the same time when less sensitive sites are around?

Millions of pounds are spent in the south of England creating green spaces and giving residents sanctuary and somewhere to plant and cultivate. North Herts Council thinks it is okay to spend their money in taking these spaces away from us; an irony that is sickening local people.

The council is doing nothing to show integrity here.

Small villages are part of England's heritage and should not be extended.

Two additional houses each with adequate on-site parking space for at least three vehicles may, if sympathetically executed, be acceptable, but Breachwood Green does not have the infrastructure to support sixteen new houses. If built, this scale of development would further increase the serious congestion on The Heath and Heath Road resulting from on-street parking. It would also result in the loss of well used allotments further reducing village amenities: in an age when we should preserve our green village environment, this loss is unacceptable.

As landowner of KW1 support for the allocation and its availability is confirmed.
The site is screened from surrounding green belt and is well positioned within the village so as not to represent an unacceptable encroachment into countryside. Breachwood Green is a substantial village with a range of services and facilities including transport links such as a regular bus service. The scale of the allocation is in keeping with the settlement. Other land is controlled in the immediate locality which can be made available as a replacement for allotments. The site is both sustainable and deliverable.

As an allotment holder I strongly object to the
proposed plans for the site to be used as a housing development.
There are other more accessible plots in the area that would not affect existing lives.

I feel strongly that the access for these proposed houses will be totally inadequate and indeed dangerous. The only access available seems to be directly onto The Heath.
This road is already overwhelmed with parking. Adding potentially 30 vehicles( average of 2 cars per house) exiting onto a road where visibility is impaired due to parking on The Heath. This is an accident waiting to happen.

Why must you build on Allotments? Where locally people are growing their own veg etc. something the Government is encouraging. Moving an Allotment can take years for the ground to be fully productive.

I strongly object to the inclusion of the KW1 site on the Heath road, Breachwood Green as part of the North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) Local Plan 2011 - 2031 and believe the proposal is not justified, effective or sound for the following reasons:

1) The KW1 site is Green Belt land. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (written in March 2012) states the following:

"New Green Belts should only be established in exceptional circumstances, for example when planning for larger scale development such as new settlements or major urban extensions. If proposing a new Green Belt, local planning authorities should demonstrate why normal planning and development management policies would not be adequate."

Building upon the KW1 site is not an 'exceptional circumstance' due to the fact that alternative sites exist within NHDC which are not on Green Belt Land, for example in Preston, St Paul's Walden and Whitwell (note, within North Hertfordshire 62% of the land is not Green Belt land). Furthermore, the KW1 site is proposed for a private development of market value homes and therefore does not meet the need established for 12 units of social housing.

2) Breachwood Green has no doctor's surgery, no shops, a local primary school that cannot be extended and a limited public transport system which is already at capacity for children travelling to school. As stated within the Sustainability appraisal of the NHDC local plan, KW1 is an 'isolated site which would be poor in terms of accessing local services and facilities'. Furthermore, the report also states that an 'increased population is unlikely to encourage new business in the area'.

3) The KW1 site is not derelict unused land, unlike other sites in KWPC; for example where Darley road meets Church Road in Breachwood Green. Instead it is used by the families of the Heath on a daily basis as allotments and as their gardens which their own properties do not offer. Not only is the land worked for fruit and vegetables, but for many it is the only immediate safe green space that their children can enjoy. The community that has built up between the neighbours of the Heath is centred around the ability to socialise on this green and open space next to their properties. Consequently providing an alternative allotment away from the resident's property is not considered a suitable alternative. It is not a sound and justified plan to build on land which is used by so many families when there are suitable alternatives available.

4) The KW1 site is agricultural land grade 3, including hedgerows, and an abundance of wildlife. As Green belt land it has an important role in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment of further dwellings. Further housing will also cause an increased amount of road traffic (including commuters) onto an already very busy Heath road, which has inherent effects on the environment.

5) Significant upgrades would be required to the waste water and drainage system around the Heath due to the fact that the system is already operating near full capacity (as identified in NHDC planning constraints matrix).

6) The KW1 site is under the Luton Airport flight path which provides significant noise disturbance and pollution that will only increase with the current expansion of the Airport.

7) Dwellings immediately adjacent to site KW1 generate a disproportionate volume of traffic and parking for a narrow road. The additional burden of vehicles resulting from development of this site would unreasonably exacerbate the danger to pedestrians and hazard to road-users on this route through the village. Access and egress between the site and the existing road would involve a blind corner of the busy road through the village. With limited public transport available for the village, air pollution will inevitably worsen. Many of the roads in and around the village are single track roads which are poorly maintained with many potholes, the road infrastructure is not adequate enough for an increase in vehicles.

8) The proposal of up to 16 houses is a large development in comparison to the size of the land and the number of properties currently located on the Heath. It appears that no consideration has been given to the current residents of The Heath whose homes would be built close to thus obscuring natural light, views and privacy.

9) During the King's Walden Parish Council meeting held in Breachwood Green on 8th November 2016 all councillors were asked why the Parish Council had previously supported the NHDC local plan and they confirmed that they did not know and would consequently be re-evaluating their position.

10) As stated within the NHDC Green Belt review, further building on the KW1 site and infill of Breachwood Green would "change the character of the village as a whole". This change is not required and not wanted.

The aforementioned statements clearly identify why the NHDC local plan is not just justified, effective or sound in proposing to build on the KW1 site.

I most strongly object to building on site designated KW1 for the following reasons.

Introduction

Breachwood Green is a small village approached by four steep roads which are, in places, single track with blind bends. The village is essentially located around four roads; the Heath of which Heath Road and Chapel road are extensions, Oxford Road, Lower Road and Coleman's Road, which leads into Browning's Lane. Considerable residential infilling was carried out in the '60s and '70s and at the same time the creation of St Mary's Rise and Orchard Way.

The proposed area: Allotments West of the Heath:This area is a Greenfield site and is also currently used as allotments. It is classified as Grade 3 agricultural land and is located within groundwater protection zone 3. Many of those that use it to grow their own food live in the row of the formerly tied cottages that abut this land. Those old cottages did not have back land and rely on the allotments for growing their own food. It is a requirement for allotment holders to be offered a new site for their use. Apart from the fact that over the decades the ground of the current site has been continually improved, which would be lost on transference to a new site, some allotment holders own livestock which could not be safely husbanded at a remote site.

The proposal is for 16 dwellings and thus probably at least 32 extra vehicles.

Policy
economy/Tourism: Although North Hertfordshire is not a major tourist destination, the inclusion of a tourism policy reflects this sector's growing significance as a form of economic development. There is a wide range of attractions in the district, particularly those based on heritage and the countryside. Tourism fulfils some of the aims of sustainable development because its survival depends upon conserving and maintaining the quality of the resources upon which it depends. For rural proposals, the need is to protect the countryside for its own sake, with aspects such as nature conservation, landscape and agricultural land in mind. The Council supports development proposals which increase the attractiveness of the district as a tourist destination. In the rural area proposals will need to provide evidence why they cannot be accommodated within existing settlements and how they will support the rural economy.
Policy would be breached:
England's unique countryside with its villages is also a world renowned tourist attraction. I have had visitors who were in awe of the beauty and peacefulness or our local countryside. this proposal for new builds will detract from the rural atmosphere of this village.

Policy
Sustainable development is described as having three dimensions: economic, social and environmental. Development therefore needs to support the local economy, provide social benefits and protect and enhance the natural environment.
Policy would be breached:
The increase in traffic, disruption of local traffic and loading of traffic onto rural roads will increase the already dire road congestion within the village. This is NOT SUSTAINABLE.

Policy
Scattered local shops, services and facilities in towns and villages should be walkable with a range of facilities within 10 minutes (up to about 800m) walking distance of residential areas.



Policy would be breached:
Breachwood Green has no shops, the nearest being 3 miles away. There are no services or facilities apart from a church and an already over subscribed school. The proposal will not secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental conditions in the area.

Policy
Countryside: The policies seek to promote sustainable development in the countryside as well as to positively protect the countryside from urban development, whilst allowing the needs of the rural population and economy to be met.
Policy would be breached:
The proposal seeks to cover a green field/arable site (currently allotments) with housing thereby spreading urban development.

Policy
Transport: New development can help to improve the range of transport opportunities available in the district by helping to improve existing facilities and providing new components where required.
Policy would be breached:
The village is ill-served by transport links there being but one bus service between Luton and Hitchin. There are only 5 services per day in either direction - the last one arriving in the village at 1830. There is thus no possibility for young people to have an evening out independently.

Policy
Parking: Virtually all development proposals generate demand for parking. This policy is therefore required to ensure parking is provided.
Policy would be breached:
Breachwood Green is a quiet rural village but is already suffering from increased traffic congestion. Continuous roadside parking is constant not only in the Heath, from which the allotments are currently accessed, but also Chapel Road and Oxford Road. These roads are part of the bus route. Parking right up to the corners of the roads is so bad that, that in my personal experience, I have narrowly avoided three accidents caused by my line of site being impeded on exiting The Meadows into Oxford Road. Moreover there are an increasing number of 'road rage' incidents caused by the reduction to one lane of the Heath with cars coming head to head either through impatience or an inability to see oncoming traffic at the end of the line of parked cars. This is also the case in Oxford road during school days. It is now the case that in order to avoid exiting the village by this road my husband and I prefer to use Lower Road even with its narrowness and blind bends. There is now roadside parking in Heath Road such that lines of sight are impeded when driving along that road.

This proposal would increase traffic congestion, which is already a nightmare. Reduced parking provision often touted to justify affordable housing or new builds is mistaken because it actually increases traffic congestion since, instead of off-road provision being available, inappropriate on road parking is used. I have seen where reduced parking provision for housing development has created dangerous roadside obstructions with parked cars.

Policy
Air quality: The major source of local air pollution in the district originates from road traffic emissions it is important for this plan to deal with the implications for air quality of the anticipated development any other development likely to significantly increase vehicle movements
Policy would be breached:
The natural aspiration of people to own cars will increase carbon emissions and clearly air pollution will be increased with the introduction of probably more than 32 cars permanently and visits and deliveries. More settlements increase carbon dioxide emissions both through car use and general wastes. It is grossly insulting to be told by the UK Government that we must reduce our output of carbon dioxide at the same time as its policies are imposing these kinds of increases in emissions by forcing the production of new houses on our countryside.

Policy
Healthy Communities: The planning system plays a role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. Community and recreation facilities together with green spaces can play an important role in the life of local people. These local facilities, whether publicly or privately owned, can be subject to development pressures for alternative uses. It is therefore important that, where appropriate, such facilities are retained within the local community.
Policy would be breached:
Allotments are becoming a scarce amenity. The UK's first food security assessment launched in recent years by the Government's Department of Food and rural affairs (DEFRA) as part of a package of material on the future of our food system. The material discusses issues ranging from how we can create a sustainable food system locally and globally. It is thus hypocritical to demand that more and more land capable of feeding us is destroyed. Allotment gardening promotes social benefits including benefits to health, education and community well-being. More and more children have no concept of where their food is grown or raised; indeed if it does not come out of a plastic wrapper they are liable to refuse to eat it. A report on the radio only recently indicated that when children were encouraged to grow their own food they were far more amenable to "eating their greens". Further building over productive land will distance more and more of our children from appreciating where food comes from and the vital necessity of keeping productive land free of urban development.

Policy
Green space: The Policy Framework addresses the importance that access to open space has for the health and wellbeing of a community.
Policy would be breached:
The relentless destruction of our natural environment with the creation and spread of settlements caused by an unnatural increase in population, encouraged by politicians, leads to the depletion of our natural resources. As a result our productive land is invaded and degraded. It should be noted that not only is England the most densely populated country in Europe but also as densely populated as Bangladesh.

Policy
Landscape and Environmental Protection: Ensuring the environment is properly protected. is an important element of sustainable development.
Policy would be breached:
Villages, such as Breachwood Green, and the landscape in which they are situated are unique to the English countryside. Destruction of these landscapes is a desecration of the heritage, character and tradition of England. Just as we accept that buildings of unique historical and architectural beauty and interest should be preserved and conserved so also must the historical landscapes of our country be treated. It must never be forgotten that building such as is proposed can and will never be reversed. When the land is gone it is gone for ever.
Tragically the proposed development will contribute to the destruction of the natural environment, which acts as an organic sink for carbon through the photosynthesis carried out by green plant chlorophyll.

Policy
Delivering sustainable water supply: Water is a precious natural resource. In North Hertfordshire there is a high level of demand for water whilst at the same time there is a relatively low annual rain fall. Any development will result in an increased demand for water. The district lies within one of the most water-stressed areas of the country and abstraction for human consumption can impact on the water environment, for example contributing to low river levels,
Policy would be breached:
Only in December 2008 the Environment Agency published a report which stated that East Anglia is already considered to be an area of great water stress and that many lakes, estuaries and rivers are drained so quickly that there is a danger to wildlife and that there is already less water available per head in this part of England than those living in Egypt and Morocco. The report says the pressure is greatest in the South East and Eastern England, the driest and most crowded parts of England and Wales.
It is also blindingly obvious that run-off from the hard surfaces created by building not only causes flooding, by rainwater flowing into river systems that cannot cope with it, but also, thereby, reduces the transport of water through the natural soil, rock and subsurface to replenish natural aquifers. Thus development not only increases flooding but reduces the water table and available ground water.

Policy
Infrastructure requirements and developer contributions: Development pressures have the potential to have a significant impact on the natural, historic or built environment. This could be through removing trees leading to a change in the biodiversity and landscape character of a site.
Policy would be breached:
It would seem looking at the map that the footpath leading from east of the site has been widened to allow vehicular traffic. That was also seen on the ground by the positioning of an electric fence. If access is moved away from the west of the site then stand of mature fir trees (Illustration 4) will likely need to be removed and the road widened.

Policy
Masterplans: The Council will prepare masterplans for the following sites: East of Luton (Sites EL1, EL2 and EL3). Should development prove necessary in the plan period to the west of Stevenage a masterplan will also be prepared for that site.
Planning blight
Over the last 20 years we have seen and resisted a growing pincer movement against our community. There is the current proposed East of Luton expansion, the West of Stevenage expansion, which was successfully opposed only to be imposed by the then MP for Hull East and Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott and the proposed huge expansion of Luton Airport which would have completely destroyed acres of farmland and access from my village to the south.
There is another proposed expansion from Luton Airport for commercial premises over existing farmland almost to the borders of my home village. This country is of finite size and cannot continue to support the concreting over of productive and soak land. Moreover we are continually told that we have either reached or will soon reach peak oil. If that is the case, shipment by road, air and sea will become prohibitively expensive and we will have to rely far more, or even exclusively, on locally grown produce. How will that be achieved if our productive land has been swallowed up?

Settlement hierarchy
Breachwood Green is classed as a Category A village with a settlement boundary defined within which new development will be supported.
Comment
The local village community is made up of those whose roots lie in rural communities and those who are in voluntary exile from the urban and suburban rat race. There appears to be no concern over our community's sensitivity to the rural landscape and enjoyment of our homes as required by the Human Rights Act (Articles 8 and 14). In a multicultural democracy equal weight should be given to the needs of rural culture and the sensitivities of the rural community as to any other community.
What may be seen individually as a small development cumulatively these developments pose a threat not only to the environment but to the countryside and our whole way of life. They are short term measures for long term problems, which are not being addressed.

Policy
Protecting living conditions: All development has the potential to have an adverse impact on its neighbours, in a wide variety of ways. Particular care is needed to ensure that the adverse impacts of the development on local people are minimised and appropriate mitigation built into the scheme. The Council will permit development proposals which do not cause unacceptable harm to living conditions. Such harm may arise from traffic generation and parking;
Policy would be breached:
If planning permission is given for this site in Breachwood Green then not only will the already unacceptable congestion in the village be increased but also such additional housing will contribute to an increase in local pollution by creating rubbish and sewerage. Building over agricultural and natural land will also destroy wildlife habitats.

We have a moral and spiritual duty to protect and preserve our natural heritage and to leave a light footprint for future generations who must live in this land. Our natural heritage is also our cultural heritage. Clearly the permanent destruction of food land and soak land will have an ongoing detrimental effect on those who live here both now and in the future.

Policy
Housing and development strategy: The need for housing is one of the biggest issues for Local Plans to address. A balance needs to be struck between the large and pressing need for housing with the desirability of protecting the countryside
Policy likely to be breached:
Whilst lip service may be given to the provision of affordable housing for local people, experience shows that unless rented by the local authority or sold leasehold with caveats that only local people can be housed, such housing will inevitably be sold on at market prices. Moreover as far as I am aware there has never been a definition of who qualifies as local and if there is not enough local uptake then clearly the housing will be made available to incomers and the whole justification for building such houses will be betrayed.

Particular problems with the proposal
Access
The current access to the site is from the east. The exit view is extremely restricted and dangerous in both directions, often with cars parked right up to the exit.
If access is to be changed to the west then more agricultural land will be sacrificed in creating vehicular access and the destruction of a rural footpath, which currently runs through the whole site.
The road in both directions at this exit are single track, narrow country road.
Exit to Browning's Lane in the northerly direction leads to a very dangerous off set junction close to a dangerous bend on the left where Darley Road meets the Heath.
This exit, with a stand of mature fir trees limiting its width, has very restricted views in both directions.
Infrastructure
The village has no shop and a very restricted bus service. The school is currently running at capacity and any increase of local children would mean that they would need private transport (bus/taxi) out of the village to school.
The electricity supply to the village is already overburdened with regular phase failures due to poor distribution.

I object to houses being built on the proposed site KW 1 allotments These are a valued part of our community furthermore the road infrastructure around our village cannot cope with any additional traffic

I write to inform you of my profound objection to the proposed development of the KW1 site in Breachwood Green.

My Husband and I own and live at number XXXXXXX. We rent one of the allotments on the proposed site. This year we have successfully grown our own potatoes, tomatoes and onions on the allotment.

The allotments provide a wonderful community area for the people who live here, many people grow their own fruit and vegetables on this land. For some of the residents of The Heath, the allotments provide the only outdoor space available to them. The land is also home to a great deal of wildlife. Birds of prey are an every day sight here. I am told that there is a very rare type of newt resident on this land.

To list but a few more objections:

The village infra structure can not support further housing.
There is no shop here.
There is no doctors surgery here.
The school is already well over capacity and cannot be extended.
The roads are already dangerously busy.
The waste water system is already at its maximum.
The public transport system is limited to a single bus route.
The decibel level of Luton airport is above the legal standard for development beneath the flight path.
There are other, far more suitable sites which have been suggested.

As stated in the sustainability appraisal of the NHDC Local plan, KW1 is" an isolated site which would be poor in terms of accessing local services and facilities".

Point 2.83 of the "proposed submission local plan" states:

2.83 Any new development will need to be located in places which have good access to jobs, shops, services and public transport and also provide opportunities to travel by foot or on a bike.

Breachwood green has no easy access to anything of this nature. It is certainly not somewhere that you would want to commute from on foot or by bike.

I have yet to meet one resident of this village that agrees with this proposal. If it goes ahead it will be extremely unpopular.

During the KWPC meeting on 8th November 2016 all councillors were asked why they had previously supported the NHDC local plan and they confirmed that they did not know and would consequently be re-evaluating their position.

Please let common sense prevail and prevent this application from going any further

I object to the development of KW1. I feel that this is unsuitable because of the situation of the plot on a busy road. It is a well used community asset and is a safe environment for the families of the residents of the Heath. And also the suggestion by KWPC that it would 'join up the village' is ridiculous! A more suitable site for development and joining of the village would be the field between Darley road and Brownings lane.

See attached

I object to land in Breachwood Green nominated site KW1 for 16 houses to be built.

I am against land in the protected Green Belt being used for this.

Roads are not wide enough for increased traffic flow as Breachwood Green is a rural village. There are weight restrictions into the village of 7.5 tonnes, signage is clearly visible on entry into village after Olivers Farm Machinery.

Cars are already parked on the Darley Road on entry to the village after Mill Way, no considerations for residents, causing obstructions and it's dangerous for elderly and young kids and parents with buggies. Speeding is also an issue.

Public transport - the local bus No 88 which runs Monday to Saturday every 3 hours is already overcrowded and does not meet the needs of the village and for residents. Herts County Council are pulling plug on spending so the service could be cut! School kids have no other method of transport.

The high schools are all over subscribed already, more families with children will only worsen this!

The site which you have chosen is affecting the local residents as you have failed to explore other sites more suitable i.e.:
1 Colemans Road Allotments not on any explored lists
2 Garage workshop and forecourts identified as site 2 from Kings Walden Parish. Surely this is more suited as Brown Field site and would remove unsightly garage and old shops to make way for decent accommodation that's in keeping with village.

I prefer this site to be explored as not imposing on Green land and other people's property! I would like this to be put forward and explored rather than KW1 site. Furthermore I would allow as a compromise to allow the Darley Road to be reviewed i.e. Road restrictions as in give way signs to incoming traffic, speed warning signs as traffic increases due to building.

I object to land in Breachwood Green nominated site KW1 for 16 houses to be built.

I am against land in the protected Green Belt being used for this.

Roads are not wide enough for increased traffic flow as Breachwood Green is a rural village. There are weight restrictions into the village of 7.5 tonnes, signage is clearly visible on entry into village after Olivers Farm Machinery.

Cars are already parked on the Darley Road on entry to the village after Mill Way, no considerations for residents, causing obstructions and it's dangerous for elderly and young kids and parents with buggies. Speeding is also an issue.

Public transport - the local bus No 88 which runs Monday to Saturday every 3 hours is already overcrowded and does not meet the needs of the village and for residents. Herts County Council are pulling plug on spending so the service could be cut! School kids have no other method of transport.

The high schools are all over subscribed already, more families with children will only worsen this!

The site which you have chosen is affecting the local residents as you have failed to explore other sites more suitable i.e.:
1 Colemans Road Allotments not on any explored lists
2 Garage workshop and forecourts identified as site 2 from Kings Walden Parish. Surely this is more suited as Brown Field site and would remove unsightly garage and old shops to make way for decent accommodation that's in keeping with village.

I prefer this site to be explored as not imposing on Green land and other people's property! I would like this to be put forward and explored rather than KW1 site. Furthermore I would allow as a compromise to allow the Darley Road to be reviewed i.e. Road restrictions as in give way signs to incoming traffic, speed warning signs as traffic increases due to building.

LOOK AHEAD
We are aware in the village that Mr M from The Spinney is hoping to develop. Therefore any requirement for open market housing will be fulfilled in the near future anyway. This surely needs to be considered before the allotments are taken away UNNECESSARILY.

BAD POSITION
In rush hour and weekends The Heath is a very busy road. We have recently had additional parking bays added which has stopped cars parking all the way down to the bend (cars damaged previously) We do not want this problem reoccurring due to an overspill of new residents vehicles. We are still suffering constant angry motorists who get frustrated with having to reverse the length of the cottages when faced with oncoming traffic. It seems therefore ridiculous to even contemplate adding to these problems by further developing The Heath.

ALTERNATIVES
If the houses that are inevitably going to be built in the Spinney are to be given no recognition then I think that a much more suitable site as far as access and the fact that it is not being used would be the field between Darley Rd and Brownings lane and also Zouches Farm.

LOSS OF OUTDOOR SPACE
The land has historically been used by the cottages on The Heath as their outdoor space to compensate for their meagre gardens. It offers a safe environment for families with young children and is a place where the community socialises and relaxes.
Offering land elsewhere would not fulfil the same purpose that it currently serves.

As we have very little garden, we have rented an allotment for 25 years and were given permission to keep chickens. If we lose our allotment it will totally change our lives.

We strongly object to the proposed housing development on the green belt land west of the Heath referred to as kw1.
The land currently serves as both allotment and outdoor space for residents of Breachwood Green, in particular those that live on the the Heath, several of whom would have little outdoor space attached to their properties should the development proceed. The proposal to provide land the other side of what is already a busy and dangerous road highlights the lack of understanding and detachment possessed by the landowner and those that have given the site any sort of approval.
If redefining land that is currently green belt is as easy as altering the village boundary on a map then we would like the field between Darley Road and Brownings Lane to be considered. This would join Mill Way and Windmill Road with the rest of the village, would be easily accessed and could provide ample numbers of both open market and intermediate housing.

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