Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

What are the plans for reducing the impact of the Blackhorse Farm site on the severe pinch-point at the Whitehorse Street junction? Also what about the railway bridge which already suffers with the current traffic flow? There are regular tailbacks throughout the peak times which will inevitably increase with potentially an additional 7,000 vehicles passing through. Similarly the access into Baldock from Letchworth backs up considerably already without the addition of all these extra vehicles.

The section on Transport under SP6 suggests a new link road and some sustainable transport suggestions including an additional bridge over the railway so that not all traffic has to use this crossing. It would be very difficult to change the configuration at the junction due to the listed properties on both sides of the junction.

Not enough consideration has been made to alternative suggestions other than landing 2,800 new homes in Baldock thus effectively doubling the size of our town. How can it be equitable that effectively with 5,900 houses being required in North Herts DC Baldock has been unfairly given over 47% of the required allocation.

Where will the new residents work and how will the land designated for industrial development be used? Most will end up commuting either by train to London or by car along the A1(M) which is already horrendously congested each morning and evening.

Policy SP3 gives details of potential additional employment on the land east of Baldock and the council's wish to promote the expansion of new technology in the district.

The plan cannot be justified as being an appropriate strategy when considering against other alternatives like West of Stevenage. It also fails the criteria 4 regarding national policy as it doesn't comply as it has not taken account of this area.

In Paragraph 9.28 of the plan the Council already notes that air quality standards are already close to being exceeded in Whitehorse Street/Hitchin Street. Also we live in Bygrave and chose to live in a village partly due to wanting cleaner air due to suffering from asthma. Not only will we be looking at c.7000 additional vehicles, but a new road being built very close to our houses. This can only further damage the air quality in and around Bygrave.

There are several species of local bird and wildlife eg. the Corn Bunting that will be adversely affected by this wholescale destruction of their habitat and no consideration appears to have been given to this aspect of planning

SP14 states that a master plan must be provided prior to any other detailed matters. No such plans were ever given except for an infrastructure development plan which was added in September 2016 but gives no detailed plans.

Paragraph 177 states that it is important that the infrastructure is delivered in a timely fashion.

Is it right and fair to remove so much green belt from around Baldock? Effectively Bygrave will become part of Baldock once the development has been fully completed in 2031. When we bought our property it was because we wanted to live in a village environment which these changes will have a detrimental effect upon. Again we feel that not enough consideration has been given to brown field sites at the expense of green belt that was owned by NHDC and was therefore an "easy option" rather than considering other alternatives eg the area West of Stevenage.