Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I am writing to object to the current planning proposal to expand Codicote Village.

The Councils Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment (objective 2a) is to minimise the development of greenbelt land and promote the use of brownfield and contaminated land. In addition to this policy HDS4 states that developments should respect the established character of the area. The proposed volume of housing does not fit with this policy.

The impact of the volume of proposed houses will dramatically impact on the already heavily used road infrastructure. Codicote has extremely poor public transport connections and the proposed development contradicts section 5.11 of the Local Plan. Developments should be directed to areas which have more sustainable and better public transport links.

The volume of proposed housing will add to the volume of traffic on the neighbouring roads. Section 5.1 of the local plan states that the area has a relatively good transport network of which I dispute due to my regular commutes to Hitchin, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and St. Albans all of which are highly trafficked routs out of and into Codicote. The B656 is a through route at peak times of traffic when the A1(M) is busy. St. Albans Road access onto Cory Wright Way at Wheathampstead is increasingly difficult between 07:30 and 08:00 sometimes taking 15 minutes just to exit St. Albans Road. Accessing the A1(M) at rush hour can take up to 25 minutes. All of which significantly impacts on the roadways, verges and natural habitat of the local country lanes.

The existing volume of traffic along with the village's own requirements for day to day life, such as travel to the local school for the pupils and parents often conflict and with this proposed expansion will significantly propose a greater risk to all road users

The current infrastructure of power, water and drainage is constantly failing and thus being maintained which indicates that the systems are stretched. This expansion will add to these services and impact on the village.

I urge you on these grounds to review the plans and realise that the expansion of Codicote is not feasible and to look at other more viable solutions to the housing shortfall.