Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We are disappointed with the proposed submission which appears to be looking at the identified sites, within the overall proposal, individually as opposed to a collection.
Codicote/Kimpton/Knebworth and Whitwell are in close proximity to each other and the high density housing proposed will impact adversely on an already overstretched infrastructure.
The transport network is a particular problem. Access/through routes for the villages included in the proposal during the weekday rush hour and Saturday mornings are already at capacity, Codicote High Street in-particular exasperated by the lack of off road parking. The daily commute, as after all these are commuter locations, in /out to places of work, the rail network and schools is difficult in itself and it is intolerable that it can take 40 minutes plus to travel to and from Codicote and Welwyn Garden City.
Local junior schools are at capacity, with some children having to go elsewhere, and there are no secondary schools. Children are bussed in and out of the villages putting further strain on the crowded road network as buses negotiate narrow high streets and connecting access roads.
Codicote's and the surrounding villages Green Belt are being ignored by inappropriate development and we are set to lose swathes of wildlife habitat along with public bridleways and the local inhabitants right to the enjoyment of open space.
There are many more negative aspects of the proposed local plan as a whole and, whilst it is appreciated that there is a nationwide need for additional housing that, on the scale proposed for Codicote and the surrounding villages, is both poorly structured with a total disregard for the already stretched capacity.

We are disappointed with the proposed submission which appears to be looking at the identified sites, within the overall proposal, individually as opposed to a collection.
Codicote/Kimpton/Knebworth and Whitwell are in close proximity to each other and the high density housing proposed will impact adversely on an already overstretched infrastructure.
The transport network is a particular problem. Access/through routes for the villages included in the proposal during the weekday rush hour and Saturday mornings are already at capacity, Codicote High Street in-particular exasperated by the lack of off road parking. The daily commute, as after all these are commuter locations, in /out to places of work, the rail network and schools is difficult in itself and it is intolerable that it can take 40 minutes plus to travel to and from Codicote and Welwyn Garden City.
Local junior schools are at capacity, with some children having to go elsewhere, and there are no secondary schools. Children are bussed in and out of the villages putting further strain on the crowded road network as buses negotiate narrow high streets and connecting access roads.
Codicote's and the surrounding villages Green Belt are being ignored by inappropriate development and we are set to lose swathes of wildlife habitat along with public bridleways and the local inhabitants right to the enjoyment of open space.
There are many more negative aspects of the proposed local plan as a whole and, whilst it is appreciated that there is a nationwide need for additional housing that, on the scale proposed for Codicote and the surrounding villages, is both poorly structured with a total disregard for the already stretched capacity.