Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I would to register the following concerns to the proposal for 663 dwellings in Knebworth over the next 15 years:
1. Traffic congestion
As an essential car user for my employment (Rapid Response Occupational Therapist) in St Albans, I have no alternative but to drive to work along the B197 out of Knebworth. Furthermore our children take the school bus from Knebworth to Stevenage. When there is an incident on the A1M between junction 6-7 , north or southbound, all traffic is routed through Knebworth, resulting in an already busy road coming to a standstill. This means that drivers/students are very late to school and work.
An additional 663 dwelling will result in many more cars but there appears to be no strategy to deal with this increased demand on the roads leading to and within Knebworth.

2. Health and social Care facilities
It is common practise to wait 2- 3 weeks for a routine GP appointment and many more weeks for a routine hospital appointment. Social care in the area is at breaking point with vulnerable patients waiting weeks for an assessment and then a suitable package of care.
The residents in the proposed dwellings will have health and social care needs but there is no plan to increase health and social care provision in North Herts.

3. Schools
The plan provides for an additional primary school on site KB2, but there is no plan for an additional secondary school. It is currently difficult to get into secondary schools within the area.
An additional 663 dwellings will house students in need to secondary school places these students will put more pressure on existing places. The local plan does not provide additional access to secondary schools.

4. Public Transport
Commuter trains at peak times are usually full and many people who have paid for expensive seats stand from Knebworth to Kings Cross.
The new dwellings will house commuters who will put additional pressure on current trains. Although there is currently a GTR consultation details proposed changes to peak hour trains, these do not appear sufficient for the additional commuters these properties will house.

5. Greenbelt land
Three of the proposed sites (KB1, KB2, KB4) are on Greenbelt land, with sites KB1 and KB2 on designated conservation areas. There has already been substantial growth in Knebworth over the last 10 years (Knebworth Gate, the Lytton Field houses)
It is national policy to protect land within the Green Belt (See - 'planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/policy/achieving-sustainable-development/delivering-sustainable-development/9-protecting-green-belt-land' [accessed 29/11/16]) . However the Local Plan proposes the removal of large areas to the East and West of Knebworth. The local plan therefore contradicts National Planning policy.

I would be grateful if you could register my concerns and reply as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and assistance

I would to register the following concerns to the proposal for 663 dwellings in Knebworth over the next 15 years:
1. Traffic congestion
As an essential car user for my employment (Rapid Response Occupational Therapist) in St Albans, I have no alternative but to drive to work along the B197 out of Knebworth. Furthermore our children take the school bus from Knebworth to Stevenage. When there is an incident on the A1M between junction 6-7 , north or southbound, all traffic is routed through Knebworth, resulting in an already busy road coming to a standstill. This means that drivers/students are very late to school and work.
An additional 663 dwelling will result in many more cars but there appears to be no strategy to deal with this increased demand on the roads leading to and within Knebworth.

2. Health and social Care facilities
It is common practise to wait 2- 3 weeks for a routine GP appointment and many more weeks for a routine hospital appointment. Social care in the area is at breaking point with vulnerable patients waiting weeks for an assessment and then a suitable package of care.
The residents in the proposed dwellings will have health and social care needs but there is no plan to increase health and social care provision in North Herts.

3. Schools
The plan provides for an additional primary school on site KB2, but there is no plan for an additional secondary school. It is currently difficult to get into secondary schools within the area.
An additional 663 dwellings will house students in need to secondary school places these students will put more pressure on existing places. The local plan does not provide additional access to secondary schools.

4. Public Transport
Commuter trains at peak times are usually full and many people who have paid for expensive seats stand from Knebworth to Kings Cross.
The new dwellings will house commuters who will put additional pressure on current trains. Although there is currently a GTR consultation details proposed changes to peak hour trains, these do not appear sufficient for the additional commuters these properties will house.

5. Greenbelt land
Three of the proposed sites (KB1, KB2, KB4) are on Greenbelt land, with sites KB1 and KB2 on designated conservation areas. There has already been substantial growth in Knebworth over the last 10 years (Knebworth Gate, the Lytton Field houses)
It is national policy to protect land within the Green Belt (See - 'planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/policy/achieving-sustainable-development/delivering-sustainable-development/9-protecting-green-belt-land' [accessed 29/11/16]) . However the Local Plan proposes the removal of large areas to the East and West of Knebworth. The local plan therefore contradicts National Planning policy.

I would be grateful if you could register my concerns and reply as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and assistance

I would to register the following concerns to the proposal for 663 dwellings in Knebworth over the next 15 years:
1. Traffic congestion
As an essential car user for my employment (Rapid Response Occupational Therapist) in St Albans, I have no alternative but to drive to work along the B197 out of Knebworth. Furthermore our children take the school bus from Knebworth to Stevenage. When there is an incident on the A1M between junction 6-7 , north or southbound, all traffic is routed through Knebworth, resulting in an already busy road coming to a standstill. This means that drivers/students are very late to school and work.
An additional 663 dwelling will result in many more cars but there appears to be no strategy to deal with this increased demand on the roads leading to and within Knebworth.

2. Health and social Care facilities
It is common practise to wait 2- 3 weeks for a routine GP appointment and many more weeks for a routine hospital appointment. Social care in the area is at breaking point with vulnerable patients waiting weeks for an assessment and then a suitable package of care.
The residents in the proposed dwellings will have health and social care needs but there is no plan to increase health and social care provision in North Herts.

3. Schools
The plan provides for an additional primary school on site KB2, but there is no plan for an additional secondary school. It is currently difficult to get into secondary schools within the area.
An additional 663 dwellings will house students in need to secondary school places these students will put more pressure on existing places. The local plan does not provide additional access to secondary schools.

4. Public Transport
Commuter trains at peak times are usually full and many people who have paid for expensive seats stand from Knebworth to Kings Cross.
The new dwellings will house commuters who will put additional pressure on current trains. Although there is currently a GTR consultation details proposed changes to peak hour trains, these do not appear sufficient for the additional commuters these properties will house.

5. Greenbelt land
Three of the proposed sites (KB1, KB2, KB4) are on Greenbelt land, with sites KB1 and KB2 on designated conservation areas. There has already been substantial growth in Knebworth over the last 10 years (Knebworth Gate, the Lytton Field houses)
It is national policy to protect land within the Green Belt (See - 'planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/policy/achieving-sustainable-development/delivering-sustainable-development/9-protecting-green-belt-land' [accessed 29/11/16]) . However the Local Plan proposes the removal of large areas to the East and West of Knebworth. The local plan therefore contradicts National Planning policy.

I would be grateful if you could register my concerns and reply as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and assistance

I would to register the following concerns to the proposal for 663 dwellings in Knebworth over the next 15 years:
1. Traffic congestion
As an essential car user for my employment (Rapid Response Occupational Therapist) in St Albans, I have no alternative but to drive to work along the B197 out of Knebworth. Furthermore our children take the school bus from Knebworth to Stevenage. When there is an incident on the A1M between junction 6-7 , north or southbound, all traffic is routed through Knebworth, resulting in an already busy road coming to a standstill. This means that drivers/students are very late to school and work.
An additional 663 dwelling will result in many more cars but there appears to be no strategy to deal with this increased demand on the roads leading to and within Knebworth.

2. Health and social Care facilities
It is common practise to wait 2- 3 weeks for a routine GP appointment and many more weeks for a routine hospital appointment. Social care in the area is at breaking point with vulnerable patients waiting weeks for an assessment and then a suitable package of care.
The residents in the proposed dwellings will have health and social care needs but there is no plan to increase health and social care provision in North Herts.

3. Schools
The plan provides for an additional primary school on site KB2, but there is no plan for an additional secondary school. It is currently difficult to get into secondary schools within the area.
An additional 663 dwellings will house students in need to secondary school places these students will put more pressure on existing places. The local plan does not provide additional access to secondary schools.

4. Public Transport
Commuter trains at peak times are usually full and many people who have paid for expensive seats stand from Knebworth to Kings Cross.
The new dwellings will house commuters who will put additional pressure on current trains. Although there is currently a GTR consultation details proposed changes to peak hour trains, these do not appear sufficient for the additional commuters these properties will house.

5. Greenbelt land
Three of the proposed sites (KB1, KB2, KB4) are on Greenbelt land, with sites KB1 and KB2 on designated conservation areas. There has already been substantial growth in Knebworth over the last 10 years (Knebworth Gate, the Lytton Field houses)
It is national policy to protect land within the Green Belt (See - 'planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/policy/achieving-sustainable-development/delivering-sustainable-development/9-protecting-green-belt-land' [accessed 29/11/16]) . However the Local Plan proposes the removal of large areas to the East and West of Knebworth. The local plan therefore contradicts National Planning policy.

I would be grateful if you could register my concerns and reply as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and assistance