Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I am writing to object to the proposed development in Barkway with respect to its inclusion in the North Herts District Councils Local Plan. In particular:

* With such a large proposed development with a lack of amenities and an infrequent bus service, this will mean that each house will need to have at least one vehicle. This will have a major impact on traffic throughout the village, create a non-sustainable development with negative impact on the environment. The carbon footprint of our beautiful village will be increased due to the dependency of vehicles and the lack of infrastructure - ie no employment within walking or cycling distance. At no time have NHDC provided evidence that jobs will be created on the new development and therefore it must be assumed that private vehicles will be needed by a high proportion of residents to commute. Due to the very limited bus service residents will need to rely on their own transport to get in and out of the village. There has been no evidence in all of the discussions surrounding this development that there will be any enhancement of sustainable transport or improvement to roads to the nearest local towns. Private vehicles will be needed for children attending middle or secondary schools as there is no free bus to any other school other than Greenway which is oversubscribed and the cost of the bus to other schools would not make it economically attractive to residents of the new development, so therefore they would have to rely on their own vehicles.
* Safety will be a major issue as there is a lack of continuous footpaths and pedestrians are forced to walk on the road.
* This proposed development appears to be on the edge of the current village boundary. A development of this size will simply overwhelm the village which is not a positive enhancement. Integration into the village is something to be considered. Barkway is a linear village and with such a large additional community 'bolted on' to the village, integration is somewhat a concern as this development will create a totally separate community.
* This development will have an impact on light pollution. The beauty of this village is that we don't have street lights. A development of this size is contradictory to the impact of light pollution set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
* The NPPF is all for conserving and enhancing the natural environment and a development of this size contradicts this. A proportion of this land has been successfully and profitably farmed for years, the land being grade II agricultural land, and is also host to a variety of wildlife which will be destroyed in the event of the plans being approved.

The proposal for this development contravenes many of the guidelines set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and will destroy and have a negative impact on the environment, character and beauty of Barkway and the surrounding countryside. This proposed development is wholly disproportionate and inappropriate and appears to be in breach of many National and Local Planning policies. The negative impact of such a large development will be huge and far outweighs any benefits.

I therefore strongly object and have grave concerns over such a large development.