Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I have to first state that I understand the general need to plan for extra housing in a growing population but there are many considerations to be taken into account before placing them in a small village.

Codicote is a linear village which creates problems in itself. The proposed 764 new houses mean an increase of 24% to the village and the proposed developments are to be built on Green Belt Land despite the fact that the Department of Local Government says that this should only happen in " exceptional circumstances". The Government has insisted that housing alone is not an exceptional circumstance to change Green Belt Boundaries.

The majority of people commute to work as there is little local employment. They travel towards Hitchin or towards the A1M. Joining the flow to the latter is traffic from Hitchin. Turning into this flow of traffic is already dangerous. My view into this main road is obstructed by parked cars and it takes time to join this flow. There are no speed humps to slow down traffic and little attention paid to speed restrictions out of the peak travel times.

Owing to parked cars the road becomes congested

Added to this are the heavy trucks going to and from the local quarry.

The local people cannot replace the cars with other modes of transport as there is no train station, and the bus service is limited - an improvement here might help.

The local school is oversubscribed. even before new housing increasing the population. Expansion is already necessary. Following this as there is no secondary school the children are transported out of the village either by car or bus - thus either a better bus service is needed or the numbers of cars increase adding to the problem..

There is no local surgery and the one in the next village is full. I have difficulty getting an appointment waiting 3 weeks . If an emergency it has been easier to attend the Urgent Care centre in the neighbouring town.

I do not believe that the Local Plan has looked into the infrastructure iin enough detail. power cuts are frequent.

I support the views of Stephen McPartland. A new Garden City. Think long term not short term.