Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I am very much opposed to the Local Plan 2011-2031 and all developments that suggest the Roundwood site is the future of North Herts. Listed below are my reasons for such objection. I must also highlight the most recent findings of the James Parker, director for PTB Transport Planning and the flawed WBP Ltd TA report. Any amendments to the current layout of the roads Haybluff/Nevis/Mendip will be detrimental and devastating to the residents lives forever.
It is for all the reasons listed within the PTN report dated the 25/11/16 and the below points that I am very much opposed to the Roundwood development of 16/01713/1. The application raises serious concerns for myself, my family my home and surroundings.
Point one. Years ago Croudace have falsely misled an entire estate (Haybluff Drive/Mendip Way/Nevis Road/Finbracks) to purchase their dream homes knowing that their long term plan was to develop the field adjacent to their properties destroying the peace, tranquillity, view and safety that the residents brought into. If the proposal goes ahead our lives will simply never be the same again. I feel like we have been miss-sold our property and question the integrity of Croudace. I suggest the Croudace homeowners would never have brought their plots had they been aware of Croudace's long term plans. This really does feel like a clear case of false advertisement, deception and fraud.
Point two. The proposal will jeopardise the safety of the road users - pedestrians and residents. Haybluff Drive is a dead end road and my family including our pets have grown used to that. We brought our property knowing that traffic would be slight (we are shift workers) and our children (primary school age) would be safe when walking/running in and out from the property. It enables us the sleep we require for our shifts and the peace of mind knowing their safety is catered for with minimal traffic flow.
The roads leading to our property from Great Ashby Way are always congested. There is no amount of extra parking through kerb sides cut outs that would alleviate this. I am amazed at times the parking issues I face getting to and from my home. I often pause as I face the double parking to consider how on earth an emergency vehicle like a fire engine would actually get to my property if required. (I have numerous pictures of double parked vehicles). To even consider access to the new site via Haybluff Drive is preposterous. It is totally flawed and even with adaptations it would not be able to accommodate the traffic issues it already contends with. Nor the new addition of traffic feeding the new site let alone a bus route. The strain would simply be too great for such already congested roads and would exacerbate the parking problems causing unrest and bad feeling amongst the community for the rest of our lives. Not to mention the health implications this would put upon the residents with increased pollution not to mention traffic noise. All of the things we took into consideration when moving out of London to remedy.
The impact this proposal would have on the community is so negative by signing up it would cause civil unrest in Haybluff Drive/Nevis Road /Mendip Way and the surrounding area forever. Parking issues/anti-social behaviour and potential criminal damage are expected as the residents will have to result in managing the parking issues themselves. The impact this would then put on an already stretched Police Force would simply be unmanageable. Let alone the friction it would cause on a peaceful and harmonious estate it simply is unimaginable.
The disruption the construction traffic will cause is not even worth thinking about - an absolute nightmare. The roads would not be able to cope with the demands the construction traffic would impose nor the reduction in safety for our children. The constant noise from the site will impact on our sanity. Devastating. This will disrupting the lives of the residents for years. I cannot emphasise the bad feeling that this change will result in. Both towards the Council for not listening to its resident whom it has a duty of care to and obviously toward Candace who it trusted. There are many resident unable to make their feelings known or even voice them on an inadequate setting a such as this. Many are not computer literate and many too proud to be able to tell you their feelings on a public forum regarding the proposal and the stress and it is causing.
Point three. The site proposed is within the green belt. Classed as such to stop developments exactly like this one. Destroying the homes of many forms of trees shrub and wildlife in addition to significantly impacting on the visual aspect of the area. The essential characteristics of the views from all the roads from Great Ashby Way through to Haybluff Drive is its openness. Its sense of permanence and countryside will be lost forever. The homeowners bought into this upon their initial purchase. How will they be compensated for such a loss? How will you compensate or quantify the future wildlife and generations in the continued destruction of the Green belt for the purposes of unnecessary development. It is reckless and should be totally discouraged. There are many other areas within Hertfordshire that should be considered and whose residents would welcome a development that are not in Green Belt land why sign up to destroy this land that is sacred to us? We are now out of the EU and the demand for housing has expeditiously reduced. We moved to Haybluff to get away from London we do not want another London in a sleepy semi-rural Hertfordshire estate. My family take a keen interest in wildlife and on many occasions I have seen and witnessed many wonderful and sometimes and endangered species cross into Bray Drive and surrounding areas including the development over the years. This has included Badgers, foxes, hares, moles, hedgehogs, various mice, various deer, frogs, toads, newts, grass snakes, lizards and even bats. We can't continue to destroy their habitats. If the development continues a crime report will undoubtedly be recorded in regards to this.
Point four. The infrastructure requirements for the proposal need to be considered - facilities such as a school; doctor's surgery and a pharmacy must be incorporated. The existing school in Great Ashby is already oversubscribed with the Head teacher saying that the next intake will be only those with siblings and within 200 metres of it. The proposal would need to be self-sufficient and have these facilities incorporated into it. Those in Great Ashby simply could not cope with additional demands. The local GPs are already over-subscribed and obtaining an appointment comes with ludicrous waiting times. These items and a re-evaluation to the access points in and out of the proposal site need to be re-thought before it could even be considered. Access to and from the A1M would need to be included to prevent the major disruption it would bring to Haybluff Drive through to Great Ashby Way and the already exhausted Calder Way. The site should not be linked to the existing estate. The A1M even with its recent alterations would also need to be reconsidered. Junction 7 through to 8 is always at a standstill during peak times. The proposal will only add to this already commuting nightmare. In regards to schools it appears that the parents of the current children in place have not been told that there is a likelihood that their younger children may now not be allowed to attend the same school as their older siblings due to the over subscription. My partner and I are planning for our third child and would not be able to cope with two school runs. I would suggest every member of the school should be included and consulted in this proposal in fairness as it will affect them greatly. This would run into thousands of additional objections.
Point five. The planning application has been done under handed with little notice and a faulty electronic registering system. Giving residents with objections no time to do so on a faulty software system. Constant logging in and server issues. Let alone the initial letter was sent out on the 13/7/16 giving only 21 days to respond. Nor any movement on this deadline due to the technical issues. The residents have literally been left to fend for themselves against a multi-million pound development company. Where is the support of NHDC during such a crucial time? Albeit through a faulty consultation database. I would suggest a civil court will side strongly with the residents in regards to this.
Point six. Is the adverse effect the development will have on the residential amenity of the neighbours. The level of traffic noise that passes my front door is minimal (dead end road/Haybluff Drive. The proposal indicates our road to be one of the two main access points into to the development. To go from one extreme to the other is too significant, too life changing this change simply cannot go ahead. We never signed up for this drastic vision. We never would. I would never have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds of my hard earned money to buy a property that is surrounded by traffic leading to an additional estate with a parking nightmare upon my return from my daily commute. It appears every single resident of the existing estate and Great Ashby is against this proposal. Surely this must raise alarm bells in the planning authority? Where is the democracy here?
NHDC must support the community and listen to its community and oppose this proposal. The disruption the proposal will cause to our daily lives is unimaginable and words can't describe how stress inducing. The thought of trying to get on and off of our driveway will be a daily challenge - reversing onto a main road that would be so congested with parked cars whilst negotiating the new passing heavy traffic and the pollution filled buses. This development simply cannot go ahead. It would adversely affect highway safety and the convenience of existing road users and pedestrians. We keep our windows open due to our children's health and the introduction of constant traffic will force us to cease doing this. It is absolutely awful to think of how much pain Croudace could potential cause us. We did not sign up to this, our property is our future, the future for our children and we need to safeguard this. I feel helpless to this company and need NHDC to support its residents and fight back against this unrealistic vision.
Point seven. Great Ashby is already over-developed of Great Ashby to add the proposal on to this through the eradication of Green Belt land is unacceptable and unneccesary especially after the EU exit. In fact there could easily be empty houses or drastically reduced plots not selling which will causing a knock on effect to the community and wealth of the area. The open aspect of the Green Belt land must remain. We cannot continue to develop on an already over-subscribed area. The site suggested is a flood plain - this will force water into the existing estate causing devastating effects. Sewerage and items such like will need to be considered. It does amaze me when we cannot even get BT infinity to our property yet NHDC will consider such a proposal and think it would go un-noticed and without a protests and compensation claims. NHDC need to develop their existing estates - rebuilding the playgrounds that have fallen into disrepair and nurture the grass, hedges and foliage. Improve the parking facilities and benefit the residents that contribute to its council tax rather than taking what enjoyment they have. We would like to say we would move immediately if this proposal went ahead but having invested in a 10 year fixed rate mortgage we would have massive penalty costs that would affect us for the rest of our lives.
Point eight. The loss of existing views from my and the neighbouring properties which would adversely affect the residential amenity of the neighbouring owners. From looking at the proposals where my family currently look out into a beautiful field and watch the sunrise or sun set I will now look at a roundabout. Where my family look out of their window and see dense trees I will now see a bus.
Please imagine for a second the noise and pollution of thousands of vehicles of various sizes slowing down from speed outside my house as they use the proposed roundabout to then accelerating at speed along my road. Does anyone realise the plumes of smoke that churns outs in these circumstances? Harmful smoke that my family and children will have no option but to breathe all day every day and night. Exactly why many residents left London for Hertfordshire was due to the evidenced high quantity of Carbon emissions. The proposals would increase this in the road to a ridicules level in comparison. The houses are not set back like as in Great Ashby Way. As mentioned previously both my partner and many people in the street work shifts so we sleep during the day. In the summer we need the windows open. We will not be allowed to do this under the proposals. It will be devastating in both pollution and noise.
Point nine. The reduction in pavement and grass verges in the proposal with have a detrimental effect on dog walkers, wheelchair users and those with children in buggies and the such like. Thus reducing the safety for pedestrians. Again you cannot sell a plot to residents here and then move the goalposts digging up the front of their house because it suits their new agenda and simply disrespect the old customers. It is not moral nor ethical and it will be devastating to their reputation as a company. The Great Ashby community will come together to protect its future and forewarn future Croudace customers from making the same mistakes.
Point ten. Headlines already being shouted out against NHDC and Coudace via FACEBOOK and other media.
"Buy a dream home from Croudace and in 10 years you could have a toxic bus route running through what was the front of your house"
"Croudace in court for breach of contract and false advertising"
"HCMC in bed with Coudace"
"New 'Rat run' destroying community spirit in Great Ashby"
"Hertfordshire's elected leaders shamed for allowing reckless development to go ahead against wishes of the community.
"Croudace reputation in ruins, value plummets amid scandal"
"Child killed in RTC after HCMC warned over opening dead end road"
NHDC please review this proposal and object for all the reasons listed. It would be the right choice to make for the good of Great Ashby.

I am very much opposed to the Local Plan 2011-2031 and all developments that suggest the Roundwood site is the future of North Herts. Listed below are my reasons for such objection. I must also highlight the most recent findings of the James Parker, director for PTB Transport Planning and the flawed WBP Ltd TA report. Any amendments to the current layout of the roads Haybluff/Nevis/Mendip will be detrimental and devastating to the residents lives forever.
It is for all the reasons listed within the PTN report dated the 25/11/16 and the below points that I am very much opposed to the Roundwood development of 16/01713/1. The application raises serious concerns for myself, my family my home and surroundings.
Point one. Years ago Croudace have falsely misled an entire estate (Haybluff Drive/Mendip Way/Nevis Road/Finbracks) to purchase their dream homes knowing that their long term plan was to develop the field adjacent to their properties destroying the peace, tranquillity, view and safety that the residents brought into. If the proposal goes ahead our lives will simply never be the same again. I feel like we have been miss-sold our property and question the integrity of Croudace. I suggest the Croudace homeowners would never have brought their plots had they been aware of Croudace's long term plans. This really does feel like a clear case of false advertisement, deception and fraud.
Point two. The proposal will jeopardise the safety of the road users - pedestrians and residents. Haybluff Drive is a dead end road and my family including our pets have grown used to that. We brought our property knowing that traffic would be slight (we are shift workers) and our children (primary school age) would be safe when walking/running in and out from the property. It enables us the sleep we require for our shifts and the peace of mind knowing their safety is catered for with minimal traffic flow.
The roads leading to our property from Great Ashby Way are always congested. There is no amount of extra parking through kerb sides cut outs that would alleviate this. I am amazed at times the parking issues I face getting to and from my home. I often pause as I face the double parking to consider how on earth an emergency vehicle like a fire engine would actually get to my property if required. (I have numerous pictures of double parked vehicles). To even consider access to the new site via Haybluff Drive is preposterous. It is totally flawed and even with adaptations it would not be able to accommodate the traffic issues it already contends with. Nor the new addition of traffic feeding the new site let alone a bus route. The strain would simply be too great for such already congested roads and would exacerbate the parking problems causing unrest and bad feeling amongst the community for the rest of our lives. Not to mention the health implications this would put upon the residents with increased pollution not to mention traffic noise. All of the things we took into consideration when moving out of London to remedy.
The impact this proposal would have on the community is so negative by signing up it would cause civil unrest in Haybluff Drive/Nevis Road /Mendip Way and the surrounding area forever. Parking issues/anti-social behaviour and potential criminal damage are expected as the residents will have to result in managing the parking issues themselves. The impact this would then put on an already stretched Police Force would simply be unmanageable. Let alone the friction it would cause on a peaceful and harmonious estate it simply is unimaginable.
The disruption the construction traffic will cause is not even worth thinking about - an absolute nightmare. The roads would not be able to cope with the demands the construction traffic would impose nor the reduction in safety for our children. The constant noise from the site will impact on our sanity. Devastating. This will disrupting the lives of the residents for years. I cannot emphasise the bad feeling that this change will result in. Both towards the Council for not listening to its resident whom it has a duty of care to and obviously toward Candace who it trusted. There are many resident unable to make their feelings known or even voice them on an inadequate setting a such as this. Many are not computer literate and many too proud to be able to tell you their feelings on a public forum regarding the proposal and the stress and it is causing.
Point three. The site proposed is within the green belt. Classed as such to stop developments exactly like this one. Destroying the homes of many forms of trees shrub and wildlife in addition to significantly impacting on the visual aspect of the area. The essential characteristics of the views from all the roads from Great Ashby Way through to Haybluff Drive is its openness. Its sense of permanence and countryside will be lost forever. The homeowners bought into this upon their initial purchase. How will they be compensated for such a loss? How will you compensate or quantify the future wildlife and generations in the continued destruction of the Green belt for the purposes of unnecessary development. It is reckless and should be totally discouraged. There are many other areas within Hertfordshire that should be considered and whose residents would welcome a development that are not in Green Belt land why sign up to destroy this land that is sacred to us? We are now out of the EU and the demand for housing has expeditiously reduced. We moved to Haybluff to get away from London we do not want another London in a sleepy semi-rural Hertfordshire estate. My family take a keen interest in wildlife and on many occasions I have seen and witnessed many wonderful and sometimes and endangered species cross into Bray Drive and surrounding areas including the development over the years. This has included Badgers, foxes, hares, moles, hedgehogs, various mice, various deer, frogs, toads, newts, grass snakes, lizards and even bats. We can't continue to destroy their habitats. If the development continues a crime report will undoubtedly be recorded in regards to this.
Point four. The infrastructure requirements for the proposal need to be considered - facilities such as a school; doctor's surgery and a pharmacy must be incorporated. The existing school in Great Ashby is already oversubscribed with the Head teacher saying that the next intake will be only those with siblings and within 200 metres of it. The proposal would need to be self-sufficient and have these facilities incorporated into it. Those in Great Ashby simply could not cope with additional demands. The local GPs are already over-subscribed and obtaining an appointment comes with ludicrous waiting times. These items and a re-evaluation to the access points in and out of the proposal site need to be re-thought before it could even be considered. Access to and from the A1M would need to be included to prevent the major disruption it would bring to Haybluff Drive through to Great Ashby Way and the already exhausted Calder Way. The site should not be linked to the existing estate. The A1M even with its recent alterations would also need to be reconsidered. Junction 7 through to 8 is always at a standstill during peak times. The proposal will only add to this already commuting nightmare. In regards to schools it appears that the parents of the current children in place have not been told that there is a likelihood that their younger children may now not be allowed to attend the same school as their older siblings due to the over subscription. My partner and I are planning for our third child and would not be able to cope with two school runs. I would suggest every member of the school should be included and consulted in this proposal in fairness as it will affect them greatly. This would run into thousands of additional objections.
Point five. The planning application has been done under handed with little notice and a faulty electronic registering system. Giving residents with objections no time to do so on a faulty software system. Constant logging in and server issues. Let alone the initial letter was sent out on the 13/7/16 giving only 21 days to respond. Nor any movement on this deadline due to the technical issues. The residents have literally been left to fend for themselves against a multi-million pound development company. Where is the support of NHDC during such a crucial time? Albeit through a faulty consultation database. I would suggest a civil court will side strongly with the residents in regards to this.
Point six. Is the adverse effect the development will have on the residential amenity of the neighbours. The level of traffic noise that passes my front door is minimal (dead end road/Haybluff Drive. The proposal indicates our road to be one of the two main access points into to the development. To go from one extreme to the other is too significant, too life changing this change simply cannot go ahead. We never signed up for this drastic vision. We never would. I would never have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds of my hard earned money to buy a property that is surrounded by traffic leading to an additional estate with a parking nightmare upon my return from my daily commute. It appears every single resident of the existing estate and Great Ashby is against this proposal. Surely this must raise alarm bells in the planning authority? Where is the democracy here?
NHDC must support the community and listen to its community and oppose this proposal. The disruption the proposal will cause to our daily lives is unimaginable and words can't describe how stress inducing. The thought of trying to get on and off of our driveway will be a daily challenge - reversing onto a main road that would be so congested with parked cars whilst negotiating the new passing heavy traffic and the pollution filled buses. This development simply cannot go ahead. It would adversely affect highway safety and the convenience of existing road users and pedestrians. We keep our windows open due to our children's health and the introduction of constant traffic will force us to cease doing this. It is absolutely awful to think of how much pain Croudace could potential cause us. We did not sign up to this, our property is our future, the future for our children and we need to safeguard this. I feel helpless to this company and need NHDC to support its residents and fight back against this unrealistic vision.
Point seven. Great Ashby is already over-developed of Great Ashby to add the proposal on to this through the eradication of Green Belt land is unacceptable and unneccesary especially after the EU exit. In fact there could easily be empty houses or drastically reduced plots not selling which will causing a knock on effect to the community and wealth of the area. The open aspect of the Green Belt land must remain. We cannot continue to develop on an already over-subscribed area. The site suggested is a flood plain - this will force water into the existing estate causing devastating effects. Sewerage and items such like will need to be considered. It does amaze me when we cannot even get BT infinity to our property yet NHDC will consider such a proposal and think it would go un-noticed and without a protests and compensation claims. NHDC need to develop their existing estates - rebuilding the playgrounds that have fallen into disrepair and nurture the grass, hedges and foliage. Improve the parking facilities and benefit the residents that contribute to its council tax rather than taking what enjoyment they have. We would like to say we would move immediately if this proposal went ahead but having invested in a 10 year fixed rate mortgage we would have massive penalty costs that would affect us for the rest of our lives.
Point eight. The loss of existing views from my and the neighbouring properties which would adversely affect the residential amenity of the neighbouring owners. From looking at the proposals where my family currently look out into a beautiful field and watch the sunrise or sun set I will now look at a roundabout. Where my family look out of their window and see dense trees I will now see a bus.
Please imagine for a second the noise and pollution of thousands of vehicles of various sizes slowing down from speed outside my house as they use the proposed roundabout to then accelerating at speed along my road. Does anyone realise the plumes of smoke that churns outs in these circumstances? Harmful smoke that my family and children will have no option but to breathe all day every day and night. Exactly why many residents left London for Hertfordshire was due to the evidenced high quantity of Carbon emissions. The proposals would increase this in the road to a ridicules level in comparison. The houses are not set back like as in Great Ashby Way. As mentioned previously both my partner and many people in the street work shifts so we sleep during the day. In the summer we need the windows open. We will not be allowed to do this under the proposals. It will be devastating in both pollution and noise.
Point nine. The reduction in pavement and grass verges in the proposal with have a detrimental effect on dog walkers, wheelchair users and those with children in buggies and the such like. Thus reducing the safety for pedestrians. Again you cannot sell a plot to residents here and then move the goalposts digging up the front of their house because it suits their new agenda and simply disrespect the old customers. It is not moral nor ethical and it will be devastating to their reputation as a company. The Great Ashby community will come together to protect its future and forewarn future Croudace customers from making the same mistakes.
Point ten. Headlines already being shouted out against NHDC and Coudace via FACEBOOK and other media.
"Buy a dream home from Croudace and in 10 years you could have a toxic bus route running through what was the front of your house"
"Croudace in court for breach of contract and false advertising"
"HCMC in bed with Coudace"
"New 'Rat run' destroying community spirit in Great Ashby"
"Hertfordshire's elected leaders shamed for allowing reckless development to go ahead against wishes of the community.
"Croudace reputation in ruins, value plummets amid scandal"
"Child killed in RTC after HCMC warned over opening dead end road"
NHDC please review this proposal and object for all the reasons listed. It would be the right choice to make for the good of Great Ashby.