Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

The overall plan for Knebworth envisages an increase of 663 dwellings. An increase of 31% by your numbers. This will change the character of the village completely and over-whelm a village that has developed slowly over years. The plan does not address in any way the additional pressure that will be placed upon local roads , specifically Watton Rd, which cannot be widened or the roundabout and London Rd in the centre of the village. All dwellings are impacted by these road ways and the village will become one long car-park and on-going traffic jam . This is particularly true when the plans for the rest of the area are considered in parallel.

To erode and extend the boundaries of the village to this extent will place an unacceptable burden on existing services , including GPs and schools. The roadways cannot cope or be changes due to existing housing. Local businesses in the High St (London Rd) will suffer as there is already traffic and parking pressures. Increased housing to this extent will mean there will be too much traffic to allow for local parking and people will give up and shop somewhere else. And we will lose the heart of the village, destroying its character, not building it.

The plan for KB4 is unfeasible given the existing road infrastructure specifically Watton Rd and local land drainage issues. The development will over-look our house at ground level and 1st floor. It will ruin our view and remove our privacy. We will be constantly intruded upon with the commensurate increases of noise and loss of security. This will have an impact on our house price. KB4 will also erode the edge of the village between Knebworth and Stevenage. It is an unacceptable reduction and use of Green belt land. Watton Rd and Bell Close already suffer due to the amount of traffic that use Watton Rd as a route to and from Stevenage. If 200 homes are built Watton Rd and Bell Close will become an on-going traffic jam as these roads cannot be widen without the destruction of mature trees and pavements creating unacceptable health and safety issues for people walking into the village or accessing the recreation ground. This will further erode the character of the village. The traffic issue is particularly true in the rush-hour or any time of day when lorries or vans come down Watton Rd. The roundabout at the top of Watton Rd/London Rd will be constantly jammed. The infrastructure of the village cannot cope with the present volumes of traffic and this increase in the number of dwellings is unsustainable.