Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

4.38 ....The Council is committed to protecting the vitality and viability of all centres.
Having driven around Baldock for 15 minutes on Friday morning trying to find a parking space it is impossible to see how the town will be viable with such a level of additional traffic.

e. Work with Hertfordshire County Council and education providers to ensure the planning system contributes to the provision of sufficient school places and facilitates the provision of new or expanded schools in appropriate and accessible locations.
Then the plan states: Ahead of, or alongside this, some expansion of Knights Templar School may be possible. Equally, it may be necessary to include some secondary provision to the south of the town in the short- to medium-term until the long-term arrangements are finalised and put in place. There is only one, already full, secondary school in the town that CANNOT be used as a stop gap to accommodate any percentage of the high number of people moving to the town whilst proper provision for secondary education is put in place in the long term.

...for major developments, applicants demonstrate how:
the proposed scheme would be served by public transport;
This proposal relies heavily on the proximity of the train station in Baldock. However, train capacity from Baldock is due to be cut drastically form 2017