POLICY W9: LOCAL GREEN SPACES

We support:
* Policy W4(B)(ix) and (x)
As appropriate to their scale, nature and location development proposals should address the following criteria:
(ix) ensure safe pedestrian, and where feasible cycle/equestrian, access to link up with the existing Public Rights of Way network; and
(x) ensure that traffic generation and parking does not adversely affect vehicular and
pedestrian safety. The use of sustainable transport modes should be promoted by providing space for cycle parking, improving Public Rights of Way infrastructure and
provision of electric vehicle charging points. Residential parking provision should be in accordance with the NHDC Parking standards, with priority given to adequate off-road
parking for residents, visitors and service vehicles;
We propose that this goes further though. Please add to this policy:
(xii) assistance with any relevant aspects of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan for the area.
The Local Green Space designations are welcomed, but ask that the draft Plan be improved by adding:
7.16 It is recognised that the designation of sites as Local Green Space provides some protection against inappropriate development. Where specific green space is included as part of a development, designation as a Village Green would also provide rights of access to residents and so development proposals offering green space will be encouraged to voluntarily register such space as a village green (Commons Act 2006).
Add to policy W9 at end:
Registration of green space in developments as Village Green under the Commons Act 2006 will be encouraged.
Finally, the evidence table (Section 14) should have the following additional entry:
Document/Evidence: Rights of Way Improvement Plan
Link: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/countryside-access/rights-of-way/rights-of-way.aspx#DynamicJumpMenuManager_1_Anchor_3
Author: Hertfordshire County Council
Year: 2017

We are long term residents of Wallington, the owners of Wallington Chase and the adjacent paddock referred to in the Wallington Neighbourhood Plan (“WNP”) as Chase Meadow. As such we are interested landowners as it is proposed to designate our paddock as a Local Green Space (“LGS”) and a "significant view".

We attach our formal response to the WNP as part of the Regulation 16 Consultation for consideration by the Examiner.

We also attach our formal responses to the draft WNP which we submitted as part of the Regulation 14 consultation as these do not appear to have been appended to the Consultation Statement and are only referred to briefly in that statement.

As will be seen from our latest response, we object to several aspects of the WNP, and those objections are set out in the attachments. Despite being interested landowners, no-one from either the neighbourhood group set up to draft the plan, known as the Wallington Neighbourhood Plan Working Group ( “WNPWG”) nor the Parish Council have actively engaged with us at any time in the consultation process. The first indication we received of the LGS designation proposal for our field was when we received a formal notice of LGS designation by email from the Parish Clerk on 29th March 2022, two years after the Neighbourhood Planning Area was officially designated.

We submitted a detailed response to that notice as part of the Regulation 14 process and raised various concerns and questions, but heard nothing further from anyone until we received the round robin email to residents on 21st July 2023, 8 months later, giving notice that the WNP had been submitted for examination. Our concerns about the lack of consultation regarding the LGS designation of our paddock can be found at paragraphs 5.39 to 5.57 of the attached formal response.

Our attached submission also highlights that the WNP as submitted for examination has received minimal response from residents and the first stages of the Regulation 14 Consultation process took place through Covid lockdowns and restrictions.

See attached representation