Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Ramblers Association strongly objects to building on Green Belt land and especially on NS1, also GR1 & 2. Any areas added to Green Belt elsewhere in the District will not compensate for the area separating Graveley and Stevenage.
The general area of NS1 is important to walkers (and probably wildlife) as the best of the few green corridors allowing them to connect areas east and west of the barriers of the A1 motorway and the railway.

Under this plan, RoWs between Graveley and Stevenage will be urbanised. The Plan removes the only Green Corridor south of Letchworth Gate allowing crossing of the motorway and railway.

Use of this site would cause the major injury to walking routes in Hertfordshire not just to Graveley and Stevenage residents but walking groups in general especially those walking between east and west of the railway.

I consider the Plan is unsound in that it fails to be Effective in delivering stated objectives
The Plan urbanises many RoWs in the area. The Weston area is popular with walking groups from all parts of the County and beyond. The Hertfordshire Way will be affected as it passes the areas but more importantly a quiet lane between GA1 & GA2 will become more dangerous.

The Hertfordshire Way, a 200 mile route round Hertfordshire uses Graveley FP10 which borders this area. It also uses the lane between GA1 & GA2 which will become more dangerous.

The B197 through Graveley becomes North Road as it approaches Stevenage. This is officially the busiest road in Stevenage at peak times. It is also a major approach to Lister Hospital serving the whole of North Herts, Stevenage and beyond.

The problem junctions are with A602, the entry into the Old Town. Improvements might ease the tailbacks but insufficiently to compensate for the extra traffic from NS1 namely traffic from hundreds of houses forced onto this road. Other or extra exit points would still problems.

The B197 through Graveley becomes North Road as it approaches Stevenage. This is officially the busiest road in Stevenage at peak times. It is also a major approach to Lister Hospital serving the whole of North Herts, Stevenage and beyond.

The problem junctions are with A602, the entry into the Old Town. Improvements might ease the tailbacks but insufficiently to compensate for the extra traffic from NS1 namely traffic from hundreds of houses forced onto this road. Other or extra exit points would still problems.