Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We recognise the pressure to provide more housing in our local area and appreciate how difficult this is for all councils. However, we have considered the proposed local plan lists for IC1/2/3 and LS1 all of which directly impact our beautiful, historic village and we object as we believe that they are not sound for the following reasons:-

We moved to Ickleford nearly six years ago because it offered a great village feel (being separate from Hitchin) and a wonderful environment to start our family. Ickleford village has proved to be everything that we had hoped for, with a fantastic school and our son is in Year 1 and our daughter will be joining next year.

IC3
The school is at the heart of the community, providing the highest standard for our children. It really is the hub of the village and it would be a devastating loss to the village and to our family for it to be relocated. We understand that this proposal conflicts with NHDC policy to protect and enhance the historic character of villages. On a personal level, it would be blow to potentially lose the heart of our community.

IC1 and IC3
We are also very much concerned about the impact all these homes would have on the already over burdened sewerage system in the village. In our short time here, there have been problems with flooding which we believe culminated in contaminating the water supply for a period of time. Without drastic re-engineering we do not see how the main sewer system would cope with a higher demand. We are also lead to believe this conflicts with the NHDC policy not to develop areas prone to flooding and to reduce the risk of flooding from new developments.

The local plan does not appear to be sound.

IC1, IC2 and IC3
We fail to see how building on the Green Belt will have any positive effect on the environment, air quality (higher traffic volumes) which will ultimately have a detrimental effect on all of our children, our future. Where does this stop? We know there is a National Planning Policy Framework and the NHDC has its own strategic objectives around Green Belt preservation, both of which seem to be ignored in these plans.

We appreciate you taking the time to review this document.

We recognise the pressure to provide more housing in our local area and appreciate how difficult this is for all councils. However, we have considered the proposed local plan lists for IC1/2/3 and LS1 all of which directly impact our beautiful, historic village and we object as we believe that they are not sound for the following reasons:-

We moved to Ickleford nearly six years ago because it offered a great village feel (being separate from Hitchin) and a wonderful environment to start our family. Ickleford village has proved to be everything that we had hoped for, with a fantastic school and our son is in Year 1 and our daughter will be joining next year.

IC3
The school is at the heart of the community, providing the highest standard for our children. It really is the hub of the village and it would be a devastating loss to the village and to our family for it to be relocated. We understand that this proposal conflicts with NHDC policy to protect and enhance the historic character of villages. On a personal level, it would be blow to potentially lose the heart of our community.

IC1 and IC3
We are also very much concerned about the impact all these homes would have on the already over burdened sewerage system in the village. In our short time here, there have been problems with flooding which we believe culminated in contaminating the water supply for a period of time. Without drastic re-engineering we do not see how the main sewer system would cope with a higher demand. We are also lead to believe this conflicts with the NHDC policy not to develop areas prone to flooding and to reduce the risk of flooding from new developments.

The local plan does not appear to be sound.

IC1, IC2 and IC3
We fail to see how building on the Green Belt will have any positive effect on the environment, air quality (higher traffic volumes) which will ultimately have a detrimental effect on all of our children, our future. Where does this stop? We know there is a National Planning Policy Framework and the NHDC has its own strategic objectives around Green Belt preservation, both of which seem to be ignored in these plans.

We appreciate you taking the time to review this document.

We recognise the pressure to provide more housing in our local area and appreciate how difficult this is for all councils. However, we have considered the proposed local plan lists for IC1/2/3 and LS1 all of which directly impact our beautiful, historic village and we object as we believe that they are not sound for the following reasons:-

We moved to Ickleford nearly six years ago because it offered a great village feel (being separate from Hitchin) and a wonderful environment to start our family. Ickleford village has proved to be everything that we had hoped for, with a fantastic school and our son is in Year 1 and our daughter will be joining next year.

IC3
The school is at the heart of the community, providing the highest standard for our children. It really is the hub of the village and it would be a devastating loss to the village and to our family for it to be relocated. We understand that this proposal conflicts with NHDC policy to protect and enhance the historic character of villages. On a personal level, it would be blow to potentially lose the heart of our community.

IC1 and IC3
We are also very much concerned about the impact all these homes would have on the already over burdened sewerage system in the village. In our short time here, there have been problems with flooding which we believe culminated in contaminating the water supply for a period of time. Without drastic re-engineering we do not see how the main sewer system would cope with a higher demand. We are also lead to believe this conflicts with the NHDC policy not to develop areas prone to flooding and to reduce the risk of flooding from new developments.

The local plan does not appear to be sound.

IC1, IC2 and IC3
We fail to see how building on the Green Belt will have any positive effect on the environment, air quality (higher traffic volumes) which will ultimately have a detrimental effect on all of our children, our future. Where does this stop? We know there is a National Planning Policy Framework and the NHDC has its own strategic objectives around Green Belt preservation, both of which seem to be ignored in these plans.

We appreciate you taking the time to review this document.

We recognise the pressure to provide more housing in our local area and appreciate how difficult this is for all councils. However, we have considered the proposed local plan lists for IC1/2/3 and LS1 all of which directly impact our beautiful, historic village and we object as we believe that they are not sound for the following reasons:-

We moved to Ickleford nearly six years ago because it offered a great village feel (being separate from Hitchin) and a wonderful environment to start our family. Ickleford village has proved to be everything that we had hoped for, with a fantastic school and our son is in Year 1 and our daughter will be joining next year.

IC3
The school is at the heart of the community, providing the highest standard for our children. It really is the hub of the village and it would be a devastating loss to the village and to our family for it to be relocated. We understand that this proposal conflicts with NHDC policy to protect and enhance the historic character of villages. On a personal level, it would be blow to potentially lose the heart of our community.

IC1 and IC3
We are also very much concerned about the impact all these homes would have on the already over burdened sewerage system in the village. In our short time here, there have been problems with flooding which we believe culminated in contaminating the water supply for a period of time. Without drastic re-engineering we do not see how the main sewer system would cope with a higher demand. We are also lead to believe this conflicts with the NHDC policy not to develop areas prone to flooding and to reduce the risk of flooding from new developments.

The local plan does not appear to be sound.

IC1, IC2 and IC3
We fail to see how building on the Green Belt will have any positive effect on the environment, air quality (higher traffic volumes) which will ultimately have a detrimental effect on all of our children, our future. Where does this stop? We know there is a National Planning Policy Framework and the NHDC has its own strategic objectives around Green Belt preservation, both of which seem to be ignored in these plans.

We appreciate you taking the time to review this document.