Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We are strongly objecting to the proposed plans of building another 33 homes on Claybush Road, outside Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

Village boundaries exist so that villages can keep their village character. It would be a dangerous precedent to re-draw this line for the proposed development, and similar plans have been rejected in the past for good reasons.

Recently, quite a few new houses have been built within the village boundary, in line with and above government requirements, and absorbing more people is simply untenable for our village facilities and social fabric.

Our school is already overcrowded, often with classes of over 30 pupils, or costly smaller split classes that require extra personnel, which the school can't afford. The school is trying to reduce its intake to make class sizes fairer on children and teachers, and adding children from the proposed development would undermine that effort.

It is already difficult to obtain an appointment within a week at our doctor's surgery, which leaves especially older people and young families vulnerable.

The sewerage and water systems are old with leaks and blockages already occurring.

Ashwell's streets are already clogged with cars and further influx would lead to complete chaos during peak hours.

On a different note, we also find the site wholly unsuitable for development, as the descent on foot into the village would be treacherous for older people, families or those with disabilities.

Finally, the density of the site exceeds that of the rest of the village and would alter its character.

Our opinion is that building a completely new town or village would do much to ease the tensions occurring in our village as well as other villages in the home counties, be it for infrastructural, social or practical reasons.

We furthermore object to the Ba1 development as this is a severe encroachment on pristine countryside and nearly starts to absorb a neighbouring village.

Many thanks for taking our objection seriously.

We are strongly objecting to the proposed plans of building another 33 homes on Claybush Road, outside Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

Village boundaries exist so that villages can keep their village character. It would be a dangerous precedent to re-draw this line for the proposed development, and similar plans have been rejected in the past for good reasons.

Recently, quite a few new houses have been built within the village boundary, in line with and above government requirements, and absorbing more people is simply untenable for our village facilities and social fabric.

Our school is already overcrowded, often with classes of over 30 pupils, or costly smaller split classes that require extra personnel, which the school can't afford. The school is trying to reduce its intake to make class sizes fairer on children and teachers, and adding children from the proposed development would undermine that effort.

It is already difficult to obtain an appointment within a week at our doctor's surgery, which leaves especially older people and young families vulnerable.

The sewerage and water systems are old with leaks and blockages already occurring.

Ashwell's streets are already clogged with cars and further influx would lead to complete chaos during peak hours.

On a different note, we also find the site wholly unsuitable for development, as the descent on foot into the village would be treacherous for older people, families or those with disabilities.

Finally, the density of the site exceeds that of the rest of the village and would alter its character.

Our opinion is that building a completely new town or village would do much to ease the tensions occurring in our village as well as other villages in the home counties, be it for infrastructural, social or practical reasons.

We furthermore object to the Ba1 development as this is a severe encroachment on pristine countryside and nearly starts to absorb a neighbouring village.

Many thanks for taking our objection seriously.