Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I am writing in response to the above consultation. I live in Knebworth and I object to the plans for new houses to be built in Knebworth and, in particular, the plan to build new houses on site KB2.

Is the Plan positive?

No.

I am not aware of any engagement with local residents. I have not been engaged in this plan in any way.

Had I been given the opportunity to pass comment, I would have objected in the strongest possible terms.

The plan fails entirely to recognise the local infrastructure issues. Knebworth's local services are already highly over subscribed and cannot take any more demand on them . The High Street is already highly congested, the trains from Knebworth station are already full and there is already a severe lack of parking available as shown by the vast number of cars parked on the kerbs all around the village. The plan does not take into account that Knebworth cannot sustain further residences as it is already at capacity. Whenever I try to book a Doctor's appointment, I am always forced to wait 3 or 4 weeks to be seen. If I need an emergency appointment, I am always kept waiting on the phone in a queue for long periods of time and am not always successful in obtaining an appointment.

There is simply no way that the proposed development can be sustained without a huge increase in infrastructure. The village would need another post office, supermarket, doctor's surgery, primary and possible secondary school (to avoid further congestion of more children commuting to school), more parking and more parks. I am not sure what, if any, measures can be taken to ease the congestion on the roads but certainly more frequent train services to and from London, Peterborough and Cambridge would be needed in order to ease overcrowding at Knebworth station.

I note that a new primary school is tentatively proposed but without the addition of all the other improvements to infrastructure that are needed, the plan clearly fails to adequately address these needs.

Is the Plan justified?

No.

There are far better alternatives to the proposed housing sites. Welwyn and Stevenage have far greater resources to support new homes. Building on the Green Belt around Knebworth will remove from the community a vital space for leisure and recreation, will make the village much less aesthetically pleasing and will stretch the village's resources too far. There is also a real danger of coalescence between Knebworth, Stevenage and Woolmer Green.

The evidence for the plan isn't reasonable or fair. As currently forecast, Knebworth is being developed at a much higher rate than other parts of North Hertfordshire. This isn't fair and it isn't sensible. There is no provision for the creation of local employment meaning there is inevitably going to be further congestion on the roads and trains as people commute to work.

The plan will bring no benefits to Knebworth. Knebworth is a large village already. Its facilities are at breaking point and the proposed plan will only stretch local services even further.

There are real threats to implementing plan. The plan is not sustainable. The roads in and around the village are already highly congested. I am always being held up along the High Street. My experience of the healthcare in the village is that it is almost impossible to get an appointment unless you can wait a month to be seen. There is also a real danger of coalescence between Knebworth, Stevenage and Woolmer Green.

Is the Plan effective?

The plan will not deliver a sustainable solution for Knebworth. It is likely to be rendered ineffective by the lack of infrastructure capacity.

I am writing in response to the above consultation. I live in Knebworth and I object to the plans for new houses to be built in Knebworth and, in particular, the plan to build new houses on site KB2.

Is the Plan positive?

No.

I am not aware of any engagement with local residents. I have not been engaged in this plan in any way.

Had I been given the opportunity to pass comment, I would have objected in the strongest possible terms.

The plan fails entirely to recognise the local infrastructure issues. Knebworth's local services are already highly over subscribed and cannot take any more demand on them . The High Street is already highly congested, the trains from Knebworth station are already full and there is already a severe lack of parking available as shown by the vast number of cars parked on the kerbs all around the village. The plan does not take into account that Knebworth cannot sustain further residences as it is already at capacity. Whenever I try to book a Doctor's appointment, I am always forced to wait 3 or 4 weeks to be seen. If I need an emergency appointment, I am always kept waiting on the phone in a queue for long periods of time and am not always successful in obtaining an appointment.

There is simply no way that the proposed development can be sustained without a huge increase in infrastructure. The village would need another post office, supermarket, doctor's surgery, primary and possible secondary school (to avoid further congestion of more children commuting to school), more parking and more parks. I am not sure what, if any, measures can be taken to ease the congestion on the roads but certainly more frequent train services to and from London, Peterborough and Cambridge would be needed in order to ease overcrowding at Knebworth station.

I note that a new primary school is tentatively proposed but without the addition of all the other improvements to infrastructure that are needed, the plan clearly fails to adequately address these needs.

Is the Plan justified?

No.

There are far better alternatives to the proposed housing sites. Welwyn and Stevenage have far greater resources to support new homes. Building on the Green Belt around Knebworth will remove from the community a vital space for leisure and recreation, will make the village much less aesthetically pleasing and will stretch the village's resources too far. There is also a real danger of coalescence between Knebworth, Stevenage and Woolmer Green.

The evidence for the plan isn't reasonable or fair. As currently forecast, Knebworth is being developed at a much higher rate than other parts of North Hertfordshire. This isn't fair and it isn't sensible. There is no provision for the creation of local employment meaning there is inevitably going to be further congestion on the roads and trains as people commute to work.

The plan will bring no benefits to Knebworth. Knebworth is a large village already. Its facilities are at breaking point and the proposed plan will only stretch local services even further.

There are real threats to implementing plan. The plan is not sustainable. The roads in and around the village are already highly congested. I am always being held up along the High Street. My experience of the healthcare in the village is that it is almost impossible to get an appointment unless you can wait a month to be seen. There is also a real danger of coalescence between Knebworth, Stevenage and Woolmer Green.

Is the Plan effective?

The plan will not deliver a sustainable solution for Knebworth. It is likely to be rendered ineffective by the lack of infrastructure capacity.

I am writing in response to the above consultation. I live in Knebworth and I object to the plans for new houses to be built in Knebworth and, in particular, the plan to build new houses on site KB2.

Is the Plan positive?

No.

I am not aware of any engagement with local residents. I have not been engaged in this plan in any way.

Had I been given the opportunity to pass comment, I would have objected in the strongest possible terms.

The plan fails entirely to recognise the local infrastructure issues. Knebworth's local services are already highly over subscribed and cannot take any more demand on them . The High Street is already highly congested, the trains from Knebworth station are already full and there is already a severe lack of parking available as shown by the vast number of cars parked on the kerbs all around the village. The plan does not take into account that Knebworth cannot sustain further residences as it is already at capacity. Whenever I try to book a Doctor's appointment, I am always forced to wait 3 or 4 weeks to be seen. If I need an emergency appointment, I am always kept waiting on the phone in a queue for long periods of time and am not always successful in obtaining an appointment.

There is simply no way that the proposed development can be sustained without a huge increase in infrastructure. The village would need another post office, supermarket, doctor's surgery, primary and possible secondary school (to avoid further congestion of more children commuting to school), more parking and more parks. I am not sure what, if any, measures can be taken to ease the congestion on the roads but certainly more frequent train services to and from London, Peterborough and Cambridge would be needed in order to ease overcrowding at Knebworth station.

I note that a new primary school is tentatively proposed but without the addition of all the other improvements to infrastructure that are needed, the plan clearly fails to adequately address these needs.

Is the Plan justified?

No.

There are far better alternatives to the proposed housing sites. Welwyn and Stevenage have far greater resources to support new homes. Building on the Green Belt around Knebworth will remove from the community a vital space for leisure and recreation, will make the village much less aesthetically pleasing and will stretch the village's resources too far. There is also a real danger of coalescence between Knebworth, Stevenage and Woolmer Green.

The evidence for the plan isn't reasonable or fair. As currently forecast, Knebworth is being developed at a much higher rate than other parts of North Hertfordshire. This isn't fair and it isn't sensible. There is no provision for the creation of local employment meaning there is inevitably going to be further congestion on the roads and trains as people commute to work.

The plan will bring no benefits to Knebworth. Knebworth is a large village already. Its facilities are at breaking point and the proposed plan will only stretch local services even further.

There are real threats to implementing plan. The plan is not sustainable. The roads in and around the village are already highly congested. I am always being held up along the High Street. My experience of the healthcare in the village is that it is almost impossible to get an appointment unless you can wait a month to be seen. There is also a real danger of coalescence between Knebworth, Stevenage and Woolmer Green.

Is the Plan effective?

The plan will not deliver a sustainable solution for Knebworth. It is likely to be rendered ineffective by the lack of infrastructure capacity.