Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I object to this proposal due to the consequences for Graveley village. Already the B197 is a route between Baldock and Stevenage used by motorists to avoid the congested A1 (a rat run to use a colloquialism) particularly in the morning and early evening. This proposal will serve only to increase the amount of traffic along this road and neighbouring roads (including A1) with the commenurate increase in noise and air pollution. It is already difficult for Graveley residents to even pull out of the side roads/ driveways onto the B197 and at times it is almost imposiible for pedestrians to cross the road safely.

I object to this proposal due to its consequencies for the village of Graveley. The B197 is used as a route by motorists travelling between Letctworth and Stevenage (and beyond) to avoid the congested A1 and at times traffic is nose to tail. This proposal will serve only to exacerbate the problems already experienced - in terms of noise and air pollution and poor road safety - particularly for residents wishing to pull out onto the carriageway and in trying to cross the road especially at peak times.

This proposal will increase traffic on Church Lane Graveley. This country lane is already unsafe and also susceptible to flooding.

This proposal will increase the level of traffic (and congestion) on Church Lane Graveley. This country lane is already unsafe and liable to flooding.

A priority of Graveley Village Plan (published on the village website) is to preserve the village's identity as a village. Already the edge of Stevenage is only 2 fields away from the first houses in Graveley. This grade 3 agriculutural land is also a corridor for wildlife and a valuable and well used recreational resource. It is part of the Green Belt and fulfils all 5 purposes set out in current legislation. This proposal undermines the very identity of Graveley and will see it ultimately subsumed into Stevenage. I understand that the Green Belt should be built on only in exceptional circumstances and I remain unconvinced that these circumstances are exceptional.