Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

This land is green belt, it consists of lovely fields with views over rolling countryside and acts as a buffer between the village and the Mimram river valley. Government policy allows for the building on green belt in acceptional circumstances, increasing the size of the village by almost 25% in an area that clearly can not cope now with services and amenities is not exceptional, not when one of the smaller proposed brownfield sites is preferable (CD2 on old garden centre). Codicote is a small village set in rural countryside in what is an ever increasing urban commuter belt. This expansion here would alter it's character detrimentally, affect the tight knit community and most importantly destroy yet more habitat for wildlife. We ourselves moved to the village 3 years ago from a large town, we live in the same road is the primary school but had to appeal the council's decision at a hearing as our son was not allowed at the school due to class overcrowding. I understand there will be some school expansion however that is only finite as the school is hemmed in by housing and could not cope with the numbers proposed with such massive building. Codicote suffers from traffic congestion as it acts as a back route for traffic travelling north and south avoiding the congested A1(M) and traffic travelling east and west across the country avoiding the clogged A roads. I am a local traffic police officer and have attended serious collisions within the village boundaries, believe me they are not reducing and I worry for my children. The campaign to save rural codicote has commissioned a detailed traffic survey, the conclusion of this is that development of Codicote would substantially increase car journeys, there being very poor public transport and limited and expensive shopping. I have to concur with the reports author. The nearest doctors surgery is located in Welwyn village, this is practically groaning under the weight of patients with waiting times extending to weeks. Quite where these extra families are going to get there medical care is beyond me. In short this village will have its sole ripped out and will not be the place we wanted to live when we moved from a big town should this level of development go ahead.

This land is green belt, Government policy allows for the building on green belt in exceptional circumstances, increasing the size of the village by almost 25% in an area that clearly can not cope now with services and amenities is not exceptional, not when one of the smaller proposed brownfield sites is preferable (CD2 on old garden centre). Codicote is a small village set in rural countryside in what is an ever increasing urban commuter belt. This expansion here would alter it's character detrimentally, affect the tight knit community and most importantly destroy yet more habitat for wildlife. We ourselves moved to the village 3 years ago from a large town, we live in the same road is the primary school but had to appeal the council's decision at a hearing as our son was not allowed at the school due to class overcrowding. I understand there will be some school expansion however that is only finite as the school is hemmed in by housing and could not cope with the numbers proposed with such massive building. Codicote suffers from traffic congestion as it acts as a back route for traffic travelling north and south avoiding the congested A1(M) and traffic travelling east and west across the country avoiding the clogged A roads. I am a local traffic police officer and have attended serious collisions within the village boundaries, believe me they are not reducing and I worry for my children. The campaign to save rural codicote has commissioned a detailed traffic survey, the conclusion of this is that development of Codicote would substantially increase car journeys, there being very poor public transport and limited and expensive shopping. I have to concur with the report's author. The nearest doctors surgery is located in Welwyn village, this is practically groaning under the weight of patients with waiting times extending to weeks. Quite where these extra families are going to get there medical care is beyond me. In short this village will have its sole ripped out and will not be the place we wanted to live when we moved from a big town should this level of development go ahead.

This land is green belt, Government policy allows for the building on green belt in exceptional circumstances, increasing the size of the village by almost 25% in an area that clearly can not cope now with services and amenities is not exceptional, not when one of the smaller proposed brownfield sites is preferable (CD2 on old garden centre). Codicote is a small village set in rural countryside in what is an ever increasing urban commuter belt. This expansion here would alter it's character detrimentally, affect the tight knit community and most importantly destroy yet more habitat for wildlife. We ourselves moved to the village 3 years ago from a large town, we live in the same road is the primary school but had to appeal the council's decision at a hearing as our son was not allowed at the school due to class overcrowding. I understand there will be some school expansion however that is only finite as the school is hemmed in by housing and could not cope with the numbers proposed with such massive building. Codicote suffers from traffic congestion as it acts as a back route for traffic travelling north and south avoiding the congested A1(M) and traffic travelling east and west across the country avoiding the clogged A roads. I am a local traffic police officer and have attended serious collisions within the village boundaries, believe me they are not reducing and I worry for my children. The campaign to save rural codicote has commissioned a detailed traffic survey, the conclusion of this is that development of Codicote would substantially increase car journeys, there being very poor public transport and limited and expensive shopping. I have to concur with the report's author. The nearest doctors surgery is located in Welwyn village, this is practically groaning under the weight of patients with waiting times extending to weeks. Quite where these extra families are going to get there medical care is beyond me. In short this village will have its sole ripped out and will not be the place we wanted to live when we moved from a big town should this level of development go ahead

I have objected to all other sites as they are Green belt and far too large. I do understand that there is a national picture for house building and feel that if anywhere is to be developed within the village then this brownfield site with only 54 house should be the location.