Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I wish to register my complete objection to North Herts District Council proposed plans for the development to expand areas of Knebworth Village. The reasons for my objection as follows: -

1. Under this proposed plan it is clear that no consideration has been given to the impact it will have on the, already overstretched, local infrastructure.

2. The traffic flowing through, or trying to negotiate passing through Knebworth village, is horrendous at the best of times and mostly at a standstill, particularly on the B197 which is the main route through the village. Car parking, even for residents, is practically impossible and is exasperated by non-resident car owners parking their vehicles (where ever they feel fit) in order to use the local railway station for their daily to commute to work in London, Peterborough or Cambridge.

3. I myself have had occasion where inconsiderate drivers have parked in front of my property, for the whole day, preventing me from exiting my own driveway until they return in the evening. This type of situation (which is very common through-out the village) is intolerable and will only get worse if this planned development goes ahead. This plan simply does not provide for the current local resident's needs in anyway what so ever.

4. This proposed local plan lacks any form of strategy for Knebworth and cannot be deemed justified or fair in anyway in-so much as the forecast development proposed for Knebworth is much, much higher than other areas in North Hertfordshire. Furthermore the is no connection between the proposed extra housing, cumulative development and infrastructure needed to support the growth sustainably.

5. There are ample "Brown Field" and empty sites with-in North Hertfordshire that could be utilized to accommodate such additional housing/dwellings projects in the region, without the need of having to build on and remove designated Green Belt space between towns and villages in the district. The old Kodak site at Caxton way Stevenage is a prime example of such wasted acreage and unused wasteland.

6. National government policy states it will protect the Green Belt and Green Belt buffer zones, yet this local plan proposes the complete opposite by identifying three large areas to the east and west of Knebworth. Furthermore the proposed sites at KB1 & KB2 to the west of Knebworth are designated conservation areas. What is the point of having a National protection policy if it's not to be maintained?

7. The areas being consider for development KB1, KB2 and KB4 are prime productive Agricultural land which, if lost, will have an impact on wildlife sites of special scientific interest and will result in additional traffic congestion on narrow roads, unsuitable for heavy traffic and usage, not to mention the additional surface water and flooding problems.

8. The local primary school in the centre of the village is completely over-subscribed, mainly by the children of families that do not live in the village, and whilst the proposed plan has provision for new schooling, it is totally inadequate and does not take into consideration any future needs for access to secondary education and schooling.

9. There is absolutely no provision or consideration in this plan to address the impact such an additional influx would have on the already oversubscribed current medical practice and services.

10. The local Doctors surgery, at the centre of the village, is not fit for purpose and cannot cope with its current registered patients and ever growing elderly population, let alone and additional influx of families and their needs. As a patient of the practice I know by experience that it is near on impossible to secure an appointment to see your own local doctor and trying to do so often results in being offloaded to their sister surgery in Marymead, Stevenage - which is equally over-subscribed and at capacity.

11. There is no provision in the plan for the creation of any new (local) employment opportunities, potentially resulting in extra strains on the local unemployment and social services/benefits offices. Where and how are these new families going to be able to secure gainful employment when, as a district, North Herts already fairs poorly?

12. There is no provision in the plan to tackle the additional congestion on the roads and railway station during peak periods. The limited car parking spaces available are already at capacity, which often leads to double or illegal parking and the main train station struggles to cope as it is.

I have been resident in Knebworth village for the last 30 years, during which time I have witnessed the whole of the village (and surrounding areas) slowly grind to a halt. Should this plan go ahead as proposed, it is likely going to kill off all of what is left.

I trust my, and other concerned residents of Knebworth views will be seriously considered and that these proposals will be rejected as they are ill thought out and not feasible or sustainable.

I wish to register my complete objection to North Herts District Council proposed plans for the development to expand areas of Knebworth Village. The reasons for my objection as follows: -

1. Under this proposed plan it is clear that no consideration has been given to the impact it will have on the, already overstretched, local infrastructure.

2. The traffic flowing through, or trying to negotiate passing through Knebworth village, is horrendous at the best of times and mostly at a standstill, particularly on the B197 which is the main route through the village. Car parking, even for residents, is practically impossible and is exasperated by non-resident car owners parking their vehicles (where ever they feel fit) in order to use the local railway station for their daily to commute to work in London, Peterborough or Cambridge.

3. I myself have had occasion where inconsiderate drivers have parked in front of my property, for the whole day, preventing me from exiting my own driveway until they return in the evening. This type of situation (which is very common through-out the village) is intolerable and will only get worse if this planned development goes ahead. This plan simply does not provide for the current local resident's needs in anyway what so ever.

4. This proposed local plan lacks any form of strategy for Knebworth and cannot be deemed justified or fair in anyway in-so much as the forecast development proposed for Knebworth is much, much higher than other areas in North Hertfordshire. Furthermore the is no connection between the proposed extra housing, cumulative development and infrastructure needed to support the growth sustainably.

5. There are ample "Brown Field" and empty sites with-in North Hertfordshire that could be utilized to accommodate such additional housing/dwellings projects in the region, without the need of having to build on and remove designated Green Belt space between towns and villages in the district. The old Kodak site at Caxton way Stevenage is a prime example of such wasted acreage and unused wasteland.

6. National government policy states it will protect the Green Belt and Green Belt buffer zones, yet this local plan proposes the complete opposite by identifying three large areas to the east and west of Knebworth. Furthermore the proposed sites at KB1 & KB2 to the west of Knebworth are designated conservation areas. What is the point of having a National protection policy if it's not to be maintained?

7. The areas being consider for development KB1, KB2 and KB4 are prime productive Agricultural land which, if lost, will have an impact on wildlife sites of special scientific interest and will result in additional traffic congestion on narrow roads, unsuitable for heavy traffic and usage, not to mention the additional surface water and flooding problems.

8. The local primary school in the centre of the village is completely over-subscribed, mainly by the children of families that do not live in the village, and whilst the proposed plan has provision for new schooling, it is totally inadequate and does not take into consideration any future needs for access to secondary education and schooling.

9. There is absolutely no provision or consideration in this plan to address the impact such an additional influx would have on the already oversubscribed current medical practice and services.

10. The local Doctors surgery, at the centre of the village, is not fit for purpose and cannot cope with its current registered patients and ever growing elderly population, let alone and additional influx of families and their needs. As a patient of the practice I know by experience that it is near on impossible to secure an appointment to see your own local doctor and trying to do so often results in being offloaded to their sister surgery in Marymead, Stevenage - which is equally over-subscribed and at capacity.

11. There is no provision in the plan for the creation of any new (local) employment opportunities, potentially resulting in extra strains on the local unemployment and social services/benefits offices. Where and how are these new families going to be able to secure gainful employment when, as a district, North Herts already fairs poorly?

12. There is no provision in the plan to tackle the additional congestion on the roads and railway station during peak periods. The limited car parking spaces available are already at capacity, which often leads to double or illegal parking and the main train station struggles to cope as it is.

I have been resident in Knebworth village for the last 30 years, during which time I have witnessed the whole of the village (and surrounding areas) slowly grind to a halt. Should this plan go ahead as proposed, it is likely going to kill off all of what is left.

I trust my, and other concerned residents of Knebworth views will be seriously considered and that these proposals will be rejected as they are ill thought out and not feasible or sustainable.

I wish to register my complete objection to North Herts District Council proposed plans for the development to expand areas of Knebworth Village. The reasons for my objection as follows: -

1. Under this proposed plan it is clear that no consideration has been given to the impact it will have on the, already overstretched, local infrastructure.

2. The traffic flowing through, or trying to negotiate passing through Knebworth village, is horrendous at the best of times and mostly at a standstill, particularly on the B197 which is the main route through the village. Car parking, even for residents, is practically impossible and is exasperated by non-resident car owners parking their vehicles (where ever they feel fit) in order to use the local railway station for their daily to commute to work in London, Peterborough or Cambridge.

3. I myself have had occasion where inconsiderate drivers have parked in front of my property, for the whole day, preventing me from exiting my own driveway until they return in the evening. This type of situation (which is very common through-out the village) is intolerable and will only get worse if this planned development goes ahead. This plan simply does not provide for the current local resident's needs in anyway what so ever.

4. This proposed local plan lacks any form of strategy for Knebworth and cannot be deemed justified or fair in anyway in-so much as the forecast development proposed for Knebworth is much, much higher than other areas in North Hertfordshire. Furthermore the is no connection between the proposed extra housing, cumulative development and infrastructure needed to support the growth sustainably.

5. There are ample "Brown Field" and empty sites with-in North Hertfordshire that could be utilized to accommodate such additional housing/dwellings projects in the region, without the need of having to build on and remove designated Green Belt space between towns and villages in the district. The old Kodak site at Caxton way Stevenage is a prime example of such wasted acreage and unused wasteland.

6. National government policy states it will protect the Green Belt and Green Belt buffer zones, yet this local plan proposes the complete opposite by identifying three large areas to the east and west of Knebworth. Furthermore the proposed sites at KB1 & KB2 to the west of Knebworth are designated conservation areas. What is the point of having a National protection policy if it's not to be maintained?

7. The areas being consider for development KB1, KB2 and KB4 are prime productive Agricultural land which, if lost, will have an impact on wildlife sites of special scientific interest and will result in additional traffic congestion on narrow roads, unsuitable for heavy traffic and usage, not to mention the additional surface water and flooding problems.

8. The local primary school in the centre of the village is completely over-subscribed, mainly by the children of families that do not live in the village, and whilst the proposed plan has provision for new schooling, it is totally inadequate and does not take into consideration any future needs for access to secondary education and schooling.

9. There is absolutely no provision or consideration in this plan to address the impact such an additional influx would have on the already oversubscribed current medical practice and services.

10. The local Doctors surgery, at the centre of the village, is not fit for purpose and cannot cope with its current registered patients and ever growing elderly population, let alone and additional influx of families and their needs. As a patient of the practice I know by experience that it is near on impossible to secure an appointment to see your own local doctor and trying to do so often results in being offloaded to their sister surgery in Marymead, Stevenage - which is equally over-subscribed and at capacity.

11. There is no provision in the plan for the creation of any new (local) employment opportunities, potentially resulting in extra strains on the local unemployment and social services/benefits offices. Where and how are these new families going to be able to secure gainful employment when, as a district, North Herts already fairs poorly?

12. There is no provision in the plan to tackle the additional congestion on the roads and railway station during peak periods. The limited car parking spaces available are already at capacity, which often leads to double or illegal parking and the main train station struggles to cope as it is.

I have been resident in Knebworth village for the last 30 years, during which time I have witnessed the whole of the village (and surrounding areas) slowly grind to a halt. Should this plan go ahead as proposed, it is likely going to kill off all of what is left.

I trust my, and other concerned residents of Knebworth views will be seriously considered and that these proposals will be rejected as they are ill thought out and not feasible or sustainable.

I wish to register my complete objection to North Herts District Council proposed plans for the development to expand areas of Knebworth Village. The reasons for my objection as follows: -

1. Under this proposed plan it is clear that no consideration has been given to the impact it will have on the, already overstretched, local infrastructure.

2. The traffic flowing through, or trying to negotiate passing through Knebworth village, is horrendous at the best of times and mostly at a standstill, particularly on the B197 which is the main route through the village. Car parking, even for residents, is practically impossible and is exasperated by non-resident car owners parking their vehicles (where ever they feel fit) in order to use the local railway station for their daily to commute to work in London, Peterborough or Cambridge.

3. I myself have had occasion where inconsiderate drivers have parked in front of my property, for the whole day, preventing me from exiting my own driveway until they return in the evening. This type of situation (which is very common through-out the village) is intolerable and will only get worse if this planned development goes ahead. This plan simply does not provide for the current local resident's needs in anyway what so ever.

4. This proposed local plan lacks any form of strategy for Knebworth and cannot be deemed justified or fair in anyway in-so much as the forecast development proposed for Knebworth is much, much higher than other areas in North Hertfordshire. Furthermore the is no connection between the proposed extra housing, cumulative development and infrastructure needed to support the growth sustainably.

5. There are ample "Brown Field" and empty sites with-in North Hertfordshire that could be utilized to accommodate such additional housing/dwellings projects in the region, without the need of having to build on and remove designated Green Belt space between towns and villages in the district. The old Kodak site at Caxton way Stevenage is a prime example of such wasted acreage and unused wasteland.

6. National government policy states it will protect the Green Belt and Green Belt buffer zones, yet this local plan proposes the complete opposite by identifying three large areas to the east and west of Knebworth. Furthermore the proposed sites at KB1 & KB2 to the west of Knebworth are designated conservation areas. What is the point of having a National protection policy if it's not to be maintained?

7. The areas being consider for development KB1, KB2 and KB4 are prime productive Agricultural land which, if lost, will have an impact on wildlife sites of special scientific interest and will result in additional traffic congestion on narrow roads, unsuitable for heavy traffic and usage, not to mention the additional surface water and flooding problems.

8. The local primary school in the centre of the village is completely over-subscribed, mainly by the children of families that do not live in the village, and whilst the proposed plan has provision for new schooling, it is totally inadequate and does not take into consideration any future needs for access to secondary education and schooling.

9. There is absolutely no provision or consideration in this plan to address the impact such an additional influx would have on the already oversubscribed current medical practice and services.

10. The local Doctors surgery, at the centre of the village, is not fit for purpose and cannot cope with its current registered patients and ever growing elderly population, let alone and additional influx of families and their needs. As a patient of the practice I know by experience that it is near on impossible to secure an appointment to see your own local doctor and trying to do so often results in being offloaded to their sister surgery in Marymead, Stevenage - which is equally over-subscribed and at capacity.

11. There is no provision in the plan for the creation of any new (local) employment opportunities, potentially resulting in extra strains on the local unemployment and social services/benefits offices. Where and how are these new families going to be able to secure gainful employment when, as a district, North Herts already fairs poorly?

12. There is no provision in the plan to tackle the additional congestion on the roads and railway station during peak periods. The limited car parking spaces available are already at capacity, which often leads to double or illegal parking and the main train station struggles to cope as it is.

I have been resident in Knebworth village for the last 30 years, during which time I have witnessed the whole of the village (and surrounding areas) slowly grind to a halt. Should this plan go ahead as proposed, it is likely going to kill off all of what is left.

I trust my, and other concerned residents of Knebworth views will be seriously considered and that these proposals will be rejected as they are ill thought out and not feasible or sustainable.