Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Objection to Site Reference LS1 - Land at Bedford Road

I would like to object to the above proposed development of 120 dwellings adjacent to Lower Stondon.

This site is deemed to be in a rural area beyond the Green Belt in the north-eastern most part of North Hertfordshire District. It is described as in the parish of Ickleford but in fact the entire Northern Boundary of the proposed site links with Henlow and Stondon.

The Bedford Road is dangerously busy. Traffic being backed up from Hitchin every morning and evening. Many accidents have occurred on this stretch of road and some fatalities. Building 120 additional dwellings here would be extremely dangerous.

The bus routes along this road are few and in fact diminishing further so access into Hitchin or Bedford without a vehicle would indeed be troublesome. 120 dwellings with 2 vehicles per household (minimum ) would create an additional 240 vehicles pouring onto the already highly congested Bedford Road at a fast point in the road. Access out of the driveway opposite this site is already difficult.

The land put forward is high quality Agricultural Land as shown by The Natural England Agricultural Classification (The NPPF states land graded 1,2 and 3a should not be built on) but continually be used for Agriculture. This field has always been farmed and good crops grown.

The Site does not support sustainable development. There is little local employment and this site will only contribute to unsustainable transportation in the form of car commuting, causing traffic impact North and South.

The only provisions/schools./Doctors Surgery etc are in the catchment area of Central Bedfordshire. There is absolutely nothing offered close to this site from North Hertfordshire.
Shops/schools,/Doctors Surgery etc. again making this site totally unsustainable.

This Site should be removed from the North Hertfordshire Local Plan due to the unsustainability of its location, the NPPF states top Grade Agricultural Land must be retained. The very dangerous entrance onto the Bedford Road should ,in its entirety, be a reason to withdraw this Site from the Local Plan.