Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Please see my response to the Local Development Plan 2011-2013 and the proposals for Knebworth, SG3.

I have been a resident in Knebworth for the past nine years and live here with my husband and two sons who both attend Knebworth primary school. My husband and I both commute daily into central London for work.
It is simply not feasible to increase the housing stock by 31% without reviewing the already stretched facilities in the village.
My objections are as follows:
* The proposed sites are within the Green belt and once the countryside has been eroded it will never return.
* Transport - my husband and I both commute to London daily of an overcrowded, over used and sometimes (in winter in particular) unreliable train service. The peek rate trains arrive at Knebworth full and it is a daily struggle to squeeze onto a train and is always standing room only. There is no plan to increase capacity in line with the additional dwelling in fact the proposals by rail operator include suggestions of reducing off peak services and fast commuter trains.
* Parking - is already a huge issue in Knebworth with roads around the station crowded and the station carpark having only a small capability. Surely these basic issues need to be addressed.
* There is no plan to provide secondary education. The current primary school is already oversubscribed and children leaving in year six are split among a number of schools in Hitchin/WGC/Stevenage and Hertford as there is no secondary education provision in the village. There is a plan to add primary places but two schools will simply split the village in half and further increase demand for secondary education that is not available.
* Lack of strategy - there is no provision made for the additional amenities required to support the increased population including rail capacity, secondary school and access to the doctors.
* Highways - The B197 is already very crowded at commuter times, how will this be managed? I am concerned that there already frequently traffic jams through the village. The crossing at station road/gun road under the railway bridge is already narrow and congested how will it cope with additional usage?
* Employment - replacing Chas Lowe which is part of the community with more housing and no employment opportunities is concerning.