Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

The number of houses allocated to Baldock will increase the population by 80%. Rather than trying to preserve the character and heritage of this historic market town by sensitive and carefully planned
development, it has simply been used as a dumping ground for a large number of houses in order to meet an unrealistic quota. The scale of development around Baldock is so far out of alignment with the current size of the town that it will inevitably place massive additional pressures
on local amenities that are already overstretched.

North Road runs from the proposed site at Blackhorse Farm down into Baldock. It enters Baldock at a cross roads. It is here that we see Baldock as an hour glass shape. All major traffic flows entering Baldock - plus all the corresponding traffic flows heading in the opposite direction - have to pass through this single junction. As a result, the junction is always congested, and congestion during the rush hour can extend back almost as far as the Baldock services.
In addition to this, traffic must pass under the railway bridge. It is a regular occurrence that lorries crash into the bridge - bringing traffic to a standstill. North Road is a danger to walk down, as a mother with children, to the local school at the moment. It will become untenable if this development goes ahead.

'...levels of NO2 are close to exceeding a national air quality objective around the A505 in the Hitchin Street / Whitehorse Street area of Baldock.'
Increased traffic will decrease air quality in Baldock. The town will see an increase of at least 7,000 cars. This is not acceptable.