Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I wish to make comments with regards the planned housing explosion in Knebworth. This is a community that is already over populated for the amenities provided. My main concern is the increase in road traffic. At present anyone living in the south west of the village uses Deards End Lane as a cut through to avoid the village. This is a narrow winding lane with no pavements. As a peconon driver living in the lane I walk daily from my home. This has become increasingly dangerous in recent years. If you are intending to build an extra 600 houses in that area the traffic will make walking impossible virtually imprisoning older residents.
I would also add that there is, effectively, only one road into and out of the village. Apart from the B197 there are only lanes winding across country to no where in particular. Over the last year or so the B197 was closed due to accidents leaving the village cut off to the north. Should anyone have required the emergency services then they would have been out of luck.
If houses must be built in Knebworth I would suggest land on the other side of the motorway where there is room to put a road through to join the A1M.
I understand that plans are in place to close the railway station in Knebworth which would make this a less popular area for people to move into. Also the school is over subscribed, the surgery unable to cope with the number of people requiring appointments. The pavements overgrown with brambles and roads full of potholes. It is surely time North Herts DC stopped treating us as a forgotten outpost remembered only when collecting council tax. Oh and when foisting unneeded housing on a small village.