Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I strongly object to the outline North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2911-2031 especially the E11, E12 and E13 will affect the area of Cockenhoe, Mangrove Green, Tea Green, Copthorne, Rochford Drive, Putteridgbury, Wandon End, Wigmore and Brick Kiln Lane.

I feel it is unnecessary to make use of Greenbelt area. The government infrastructure bill 2016 clearly states that it supports the Government's ambition to deliver one million homes whilst protecting greenbelt areas. This development goes totally against the Government objectives. The proposed development totally goes against the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which sets out strategic priorities that all local plans need to consider including Environmental and Economical considerations. The following table outlines some of the environmental considerations.

Environmental:
ENV1 Direct development towards the most sustainable locations which seek to maintain the existing settlement pattern.
ENV2 Protect and enhance the historic character of North Hertfordshire's towns, villages, hamlets and landscape by promoting good design that creates a distinctive sense of place.
ENV3 Protect, maintain and enhance the District's historic and natural environment, its cultural assets and network of open spaces, urban and rural landscapes.

Clearly the proposed development goes against all of these environmental considerations. It will destroy the environment, the village community and create noise and pollution in the area used by locals for walking and recreation.

From economical stand point, there are no industry in the vicinity nor will it create business opportunities or jobs, any one leaving in the are will have to commute through small lanes into Hertfordshire or on to Eaton Green Road and Crawley Green Road, putting further strain on already congested roads.

The plan does not take into consideration the infrastructure required to support the scale of this development. The road infrastructure around the villages and roads leading into Luton will not support the level of traffic during pick times given that the majority of the traffic will come into Luton. The roads leading into Luton central and parkway station are already congested. We commute into London and due to congestion on Crawley Green and Eaton Green Road it takes us upto half an hour in the morning to get to the station, which during off peak times can take as little as 10 to 12 minutes. Clearly with the increase in the level of traffic the commute time will increase. The Luton Main station car park gets full by late morning, I have had to find alternative parking on a number of occasion, with additional cars will create further parking issues.

The additional traffic will cause more damage to the road system, the repair of which will have to be carried out by LBC thus increasing cost of council tax for residence in Luton Bedfordshire. How will Hertfordshire Council compensate LBC and Luton Tax pair for this additional cost?

Servicing; we have not seen any proposal for how and who will service this development, IE refuge collection, emergency services etc given that the proposed development is going to be considerable distance away from the Hertfordshire main conurbation. Servicing will be difficult with a large refuge collection and emergency vehicle going through small lanes. This will be even more difficult in the winter when we get snow or icy roads.

It has been said that this development is to meet Luton's housing needs, if that is the case then there is lot of other land in North Luton which can be used for housing development, that will provide easy access to Motorways, especially with new M1 junction, and into the Luton. There is lot of other land available in Hertfordshire for this type of development, closer to other Hertfordshire towns. In my view this development will put greater demand on Bedfordshire resources and cost of which will have to be born by Luton Bedfordshire tax payers.

I am and all the other people in Wigmore area are totally opposed to this development, and will be willing to take necessary action to stop the approval of this plan.

I strongly object to the outline North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2911-2031 especially the E11, E12 and E13 will affect the area of Cockenhoe, Mangrove Green, Tea Green, Copthorne, Rochford Drive, Putteridgbury, Wandon End, Wigmore and Brick Kiln Lane.

I feel it is unnecessary to make use of Greenbelt area. The government infrastructure bill 2016 clearly states that it supports the Government's ambition to deliver one million homes whilst protecting greenbelt areas. This development goes totally against the Government objectives. The proposed development totally goes against the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which sets out strategic priorities that all local plans need to consider including Environmental and Economical considerations. The following table outlines some of the environmental considerations.

Environmental:
ENV1 Direct development towards the most sustainable locations which seek to maintain the existing settlement pattern.
ENV2 Protect and enhance the historic character of North Hertfordshire's towns, villages, hamlets and landscape by promoting good design that creates a distinctive sense of place.
ENV3 Protect, maintain and enhance the District's historic and natural environment, its cultural assets and network of open spaces, urban and rural landscapes.

Clearly the proposed development goes against all of these environmental considerations. It will destroy the environment, the village community and create noise and pollution in the area used by locals for walking and recreation.

From economical stand point, there are no industry in the vicinity nor will it create business opportunities or jobs, any one leaving in the are will have to commute through small lanes into Hertfordshire or on to Eaton Green Road and Crawley Green Road, putting further strain on already congested roads.

The plan does not take into consideration the infrastructure required to support the scale of this development. The road infrastructure around the villages and roads leading into Luton will not support the level of traffic during pick times given that the majority of the traffic will come into Luton. The roads leading into Luton central and parkway station are already congested. We commute into London and due to congestion on Crawley Green and Eaton Green Road it takes us upto half an hour in the morning to get to the station, which during off peak times can take as little as 10 to 12 minutes. Clearly with the increase in the level of traffic the commute time will increase. The Luton Main station car park gets full by late morning, I have had to find alternative parking on a number of occasion, with additional cars will create further parking issues.

The additional traffic will cause more damage to the road system, the repair of which will have to be carried out by LBC thus increasing cost of council tax for residence in Luton Bedfordshire. How will Hertfordshire Council compensate LBC and Luton Tax pair for this additional cost?

Servicing; we have not seen any proposal for how and who will service this development, IE refuge collection, emergency services etc given that the proposed development is going to be considerable distance away from the Hertfordshire main conurbation. Servicing will be difficult with a large refuge collection and emergency vehicle going through small lanes. This will be even more difficult in the winter when we get snow or icy roads.

It has been said that this development is to meet Luton's housing needs, if that is the case then there is lot of other land in North Luton which can be used for housing development, that will provide easy access to Motorways, especially with new M1 junction, and into the Luton. There is lot of other land available in Hertfordshire for this type of development, closer to other Hertfordshire towns. In my view this development will put greater demand on Bedfordshire resources and cost of which will have to be born by Luton Bedfordshire tax payers.

I am and all the other people in Wigmore area are totally opposed to this development, and will be willing to take necessary action to stop the approval of this plan.