Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We do not support the proposed development because although it would promote the vitality of Baldock town centre (National Planning Policy Framework [NPPF] Section 2, Policy 23), it does not do so in a practicable way in particular in relation to sustainable transport within the town (NPPF Section 4, Policy 4). We object to the proposed development because of problems with the following site specific requirements:

Policy SP14 (b)
Baldock has a historic High Street with market space and many commercial units, but the number and diversity of retail businesses has declined over the last few decades. Retail is now dominated by the Tesco superstore at the southern end of the High Street. The increase in population resulting from the proposed development could attract a greater diversity of retail and service businesses along the High Street. This has the potential to reinvigorate this traditional market town. However, existing infrastructure for pedestrian and vehicular access from the north side of Baldock to the town centre already has inadequate capacity and in our experience is frequently hazardous. Further detail is provided below. The development plan for site BA1 will greatly exacerbate these issues because of increased traffic to the town centre, in particular to the Tesco superstore which is the only large supermarket in Baldock and which shoppers mainly visit by car.

Policy SP14 (d) and (e)
Our major objection to the proposed development north of Baldock is that the transport infrastructure proposals outlined in the local plan under Policy SP14 sections d and e are inadequate and do not meet the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Section 4.
1. (NPPF Sect 4, Policy 31) Many residents of the proposed development are likely to be commuters using the rail services into London and Cambridge. The local authority is not working with the train company Govia Thameslink which is currently proposing to reduce services into London (http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/your-journey/timetable-consultation).
2. (NPPF Sect 4, Policy 37) The development will undoubtedly lead to a large increase in traffic movement between the development site and Baldock town centre. In particular, new residents will be travelling to the Tesco superstore at the southern end of the High Street because the proposed retail units within BA1 will not offer the same range of products and services (e.g., pharmacy, telecommunications franchise, coffee shop, petrol station, currency exchange).
3. (NPPF Sect 4, Policy 35) The most severe impact of this increase in traffic movement will be on the A507 North Road around the railway bridge. The existing transport infrastructure here is already inadequate for the following reasons:
a. Traffic travelling into and through Baldock frequently backs up on the southbound carriageway of the North Road from the Station Road/Royston Road crossroads to well beyond the junction with Salisbury Road (Photo 1).
b. Pedestrian movement along North Road/Station Road is hazardous because of the very narrow pavements under the railway bridge. Pedestrians are frequently forced to step into the stop-start vehicular traffic on the narrow carriageway (Photo 2).
c. The only designated pedestrian crossing point is at the Station Road/Royston Road crossroads where the traffic light sequence gives pedestrians a very long wait time. Pedestrians therefore prefer to cross at the two road islands to the south and north of the railway bridge. This is hazardous because of the stop-start traffic on the southbound carriageway, and traffic on the northbound carriageway which often exceeds the 30 mph speed limit. These hazards are even more severe for pedestrians with pushchairs, and those with disabilities who rely on wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
d. The traffic and carriageway issues on the North Road/Station Road (detailed above) deter cycling to and from the station and town centre. There is no cycle lane and the narrow carriageway and pavement prohibit creation of a cycle lane on either the road or the footpath.
e. The traffic movement and hazards along the North Road/Station Road are regularly made worse by incidents of lorries striking the low railway bridge, or turning round to avoid doing so. The local MP is concerned that the bridge is a notorious accident spot - see The Comet article at (http://www.thecomet.net/motoring/this_has_to_stop_says_great_northern_train_operator_as_investigation_reveals_750_000_bill_from_baldock_bridge_strikes_1_4477133).

Policy SP14 makes no concrete provision for safe access to and from Baldock town centre and train station as required by NPPF Section 4, policy 35. Given that there are already dangerous conflicts between traffic, cyclists and pedestrians, and the proposed development to the north of Baldock would significantly increase the traffic to and from Baldock town centre, this is a very serious shortcoming of the proposals. It is hard to see how the infrastructure here can be improved to give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements as required by NPPF policy 35.

The proposed new link road between the A507 and A505 will not solve the traffic issues and hazards because: 1. Freight traffic heading down the A507 towards Buntingford will still have to go via North Road/Station Road and Baldock town centre, 2. The new link road does not provide a sensible route for cars from the western end of development site BA1 to access shopping and services in Baldock and Letchworth.

Policy SP14 (e.i.)
The proposed pedestrian rail crossing in the vicinity of Ashville Way will bring pedestrian and cycle traffic out onto the B656 Royston Road. The onward route into Baldock town centre along the Royston Road is hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists because there is only one footpath on the south side of the road which is narrow, in a state of disrepair and has a dangerous camber into the road (Photo 3). The road carriageway is also narrow and has a speed limit of 40 mph, deterring cycling. These hazards will be made worse by the increased volume of car traffic entering Baldock along this route from the eastern end of development site BA1.
To allow people to use rail services as a sustainable transport option requires improvements in: 1. Access both around and at the station; 2. Parking provision and enforcement; 3. Effective working with Network Rail and Govia Thameslink who hold the franchise for rail services from Baldock to and from London and Cambridge. The only existing access to Baldock train station is off Icknield Way East at a dangerous box junction with Station Road, Icknield Way and Football Close (Photo 4). Sustainable transport would be promoted by the creation of direct pedestrian and cycle access to the northbound platform from north of the railway bridge over Station Road. Necessary access improvements also include additional station parking and parking restrictions in the neighbouring roads. Additionally, both station platforms are currently inaccessible to those passengers with disabilities who require step-free access. Without detailed plans and guarantees that these access improvements can be achieved, the proposals do not meet the requirements of NPPF Section 4, policies 29, 30, 31 and 35.