Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We have lived in Knebworth for almost 40 years and have seen how natural growth has caused an increase in issues such as traffic flow, parking, appointments for Doctors, utility supplier problems etc. Not putting aside the obvious objections, building on the Green Belt and expanding the 'village' proportionately more than other areas, the proposed development will have a detrimental effect on all these and more. Building several hundred homes plus a school will only exacerbate an already present problem.
For example , the main access to either KB1 or KB2 means travelling along three existing narrow roads, blind corners and dangerous bridges, and the term dangerous is not an exaggeration and applies to all the approaches, particularly for pedestrians, as the bridge pathways are suitable for just one person to walk safely.
The proposal increase the schedule for train journeys will also impact on the parking issues as commuters are already spreading further out into the surrounding streets.
Knebworth streets are difficult to traverse and with six hundred plus homes, meaning probably nearer a thousand resident vehicles plus associated delivery vans, work vans etc not to mention refuse collection and emergency vehicles, it will result in gridlock especially when there are problems on the A1M when Knebworth main street becomes the only escape.
Having a new school in KB2 will presumably mean the catchment area includes surrounding areas, with the associated traffic disruption twice a day too.