Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I wish to respond to the proposals for this area.

Firstly the proposed number of houses is excessive compared to the current size of the village. It would increase it by almost one third. There are also plans for substantial numbers of houses in Stevenage and Woolmer Green which will impact the area severely.

Road and rail services are already under considerable strain and there do not appear to be any plans to increase provision. Other services are also stretched and /or inadequate. Drainage and sewage disposal are already suffering capacity problems.

Nor are there any plans to provide local jobs or provided more shops and facilities in the village. Presumably it is thought that the newcomers will all commute to London or other towns adding to current congestion and traffic problems. Pollution will also increase.

It will result in the loss of green belt around Knebworth and lead to the coalescence of settlements against Government policy. We will also lose access to the countryside and wildlife will be badly affected. Conservation areas will be impacted and agricultural land will be lost.

For all these reasons I am against the proposals in the Local Plan.