Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I would like to object to the proposed housing developments around Codicote, which in their totality I believe to be unsound.

In particular I would like to object on the grounds of traffic and sustainability. In support of these objections I refer to the following evidence, which demonstrates that the proposals are inconsistent with the National Planning Policy Framework .

1. Over 77% of Codicote residents drive themselves to work. The community is not well served with public transport, and those wishing to take the train need to drive to a station as few buses are scheduled. In addition, the community has no secondary education, doctor's surgery, baby- or ante-natal clinic or bank, so residents generally need to make car journeys to access anything other than the few facilities in the village. These imperatives mean the housing proposals are inconsistent with the government's principle of sustainability.
2. The road through the village is highly congested and acts as an alternative north-south route to the A1. At peak times, traffic is effectively at a stand-still on the High Street, which causes consequential problems throughout the village. For example, I had a recent hospital appointment at 8.15 a.m at a local hospital. After leaving at 7.45, I was still in traffic on the B656 north of Welwyn at 8.05 and had travelled approximately 1.5 miles in those 20 minutes. This was not atypical for that time of day. The additional houses will add to this pressure.
In conclusion, given that 12% more residents than average for the district need to drive to work, and that the village has limited public transport or major facilities, the scale of the housing proposals contravenes the test of soundness and is not consistent with the element of national policy which state that the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework.