Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I would like to take this opportunity to lodge a protest against the plans for the north side of Letchworth for 1,000+ houses (Grange Estate), could you please pass this on to the relevant person(s).

The following reasons for my protest are listed below;
1.The plan for building 1,000+ houses on the north side of Letchworth would have an adverse effect on the following infrastructure(s) owing to the increase in density to an already populated area:
A. Increased traffic, which would be using the existing /proposed roads on which the existing roads are already under poor repair and no current budget can/will be allocated to this and roads owned by a different council body. (i.e. Western Way on the Grange Estate).
B. Extra strain on the environmental issues which are finding hard to sustain current levels such as waste collection, carbon footprint and recycling collections.
C. Population density will be a major factor as the council states in its core policies that it does not want a merge of villages and unrecognisable expansion of towns, with this approach, with this proposal you will be failing your own policies.
D. The housing growth in this area will change the nature and size of demand for facilities, including the need for additional facilities in areas of new development and issues arising from loss of facilities in rural area.
E. The need for doctors, dentists, schools, hospitals, transport links and leisure activities which will all be additionally required with this proposed area cannot be sustained as currently all facilities are fully utilised and could not accommodate the additional intake of at least 2,000 extra residents.
F. The Council has stated that the local parade of shops on Southfields on the Grange estate in Letchworth Garden City is in a state of deprivation these facilities could not accommodate the extra housing requirements on north side of Letchworth (Grange Estate).
G. The current wildlife in the proposed area inclusive of grass and woodland would suffer immensely there is also a fenced area that is used for wildlife observation and measurement by a government body adjacent to this proposal which would be greatly effected/destroyed and holds rare wildlife/plant life which is being investigated. Also habitat for a significant number of endangered wildlife would be under threat.
H. As quoted in you core policy upon which wildlife is concerned is ; " The policy also aims to protect the quality of the natural environment as development pressures increase in the District and help to create a sustainable pattern of development. As the policy says that detrimental proposals will not be permitted, this policy will be expected to take precedence in situations where there is a conflict. For example, the policies on housing may suggest that a site is acceptable for housing, but to build there, would be detrimental to a recognised wildlife corridor, and so the proposal would fail on the basis of this policy." - This would fail.
I. The council states in the corporate part "Index of Multiple Deprivation 1 scores exceeds 20, one of them is policy of the Grange estate (20.50)" how can we add additional housing and put more strain on this area when we need to address the depravity issues and to further ensure an integrated community, the council would be contravening at least two of it's promised policies.
J. The council's core policy state that the use of greenbelt land (or the release of it) for building should not interfere with the well being and harmonious living conditions of current dwellings or character, this proposal would have a dramatic negative effect on the conditions, infrastructure and character.
K. The current availability to be live locally and work locally is very constrained (as policy states this would be a desired requirement) employment levels within Letchworth is very limited, industry and manufacturing is in decline throughout Hitchin, Letchworth and surrounding areas, as is job availability. The employment availability could not cope with this extra volume of people residing in the proposed area.
L. The current A1(M) is under great traffic strain in core commuting hours and takes 1/2 hour to get to Stevenage now in peak period (usually 15 minute journey) the impact of 1,000 extra houses would impact all directions of highways traffic and only increase pollution and travel times thus making it unsustainable to travel to work.This would impact current households ability to keep employment owing to the impact of delayed travel times.

2. The Government Policy States:
Councils no longer need to invade their Green Belts just to meet housing needs forecasts. [New paragraphs 44 and 45 of the Government's / Parliament's Planning Practice Guidance make that clear. The forecasts are for between 2011 and 2031 and made by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
2.Your core policy statement quotes;
"The District's ecological footprint has been assessed at 5.50 global hectares
per person (Hertfordshire Environmental Forum, The Ecological Footprint of
Hertfordshire, July 2006). A global hectare is an estimate of how much
productive land there is on the planet. Given that the global average is 2.2
global hectares per person, North Hertfordshire residents are therefore using
2.5 times their hypothetical fair share of the planet's resources and slightly
more than the UK average of 5.4 global hectares per person"
By building these extra houses in an already populated environment this will increase both the Carbon and ecological footprint to an unsustainable more.
3.Your environmental core policy statement quotes;
"The natural environment forms the background to the towns and villages in which people
live, work and spend their leisure time. It should be protected and enhanced
in the future to maintain the existing high quality of life that people in the
District enjoy.
This would be severely hampered with the addition of 1,000+ houses been built on north side of Letchworth
4.Your environmental core policy statement quotes;
"Furthermore,
the more travelling that people are having to do, the greater the contribution to
climate change and traffic congestion."
The implementation of this proposal would have a massive effect on effects to the contribution to
climate change and traffic congestion.

Core Strategy options instead of building north of Letchworth
As your Core Strategy states, these could be some very viable alternative areas that could be used instead of north of Letchworth:
Use the land between Royston and/or Baldock and their respective bypasses.
Use the land between Letchworth and/or Baldock bypass.
Focus more on the villages than the towns.
Increase the number of dwellings built at West Stevenage.
Enlarge Great Ashby.
Building on/by the Western Hills, Baldock.
Build a new town.

OR

As stated in YOUR Core Strategy the following areas can be of consideration instead of the plans for the north side of Letchworth for 1,000+ houses;

"The options relating to West Stevenage and Great Ashby cannot be ruled out
at this stage as they will be considered in the Stevenage and North Hertfordshire Action Plan".
"The villages of Ashwell, Ickleford, Offley, Pirton, Preston, St Ippolyts, Weston
and Little Wymondley should have development boundaries drawn around
them within which development may occur."
"Based on our Landscape Capacity and Sensitivity Study and our Peripheral
Sites Study, we have identified one principal direction for growth - the north of
the town within the bypass, although not to the west of the farm track from Ivy
Farm, or to the east of Melbourne Road, so as to protect views between the
town and Therfield Heath and the Cambridgeshire Plain. More detailed
consideration will be carried out at the land allocations stage."
"Knebworth should be allowed to expand a modest amount, but not towards
Stevenage or Woolmer Green"

Other ALTERNATIVE options instead of building north of Letchworth
Potential for building in the Norton Road area pastures/ fields. (not being currently productively used)
Refurbishment of dilapidated / boarded up properties and housing new arrivals. (which there are many in Letchworth and surrounding areas)
Extension to the relatively new site located adjacent to Green Lane Letchworth.
Vacant land areas located by the Irish Club in Letchworth.
Rebuilding new homes and the regeneration of existing flats in the Pelican Way area.
Potential for building in the Wilbury Hills area pastures/ fields.

Other Considerations if the plan goes ahead building north of Letchworth
Potential noise pollution with traffic and workers/machinery during building times
Excess building traffic and relative access to sites
Unnecessary lighting used during construction and light pollution
Effect to wildlife/plant life during construction
Value of homes bordering sites during and after construction will decrease (who will compensate?)
Health & Safety of people outside sites owing to extra traffic


I sincerely hope that this protest and information is passed on correctly, digested and thorough consideration given to this very important matter, which many community members I have liaised with have expressed grave concern.