Further Proposed Modifications to the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011- 2031

I am horrified to read in the NHDC Local Plan, the amount of building that is proposed, much of it on Green Belt land. I know Stevenage Borough Council have no respect for green land and we always been happy to build acres of high-rise monstrosities, but I have always believed that NHDC had a different approach. I thought you cared about the countryside for the valuable asset that it is.
I have lived in Todds Green for over 30 years and during that time we have been constantly fending off applications to develop the surrounding Green Belt land, mainly from the dreaded West of Stevenage proposed development.
Most important is that scientists and ecologists are telling us on a daily basis and in very strong language that trees and green spaces are vital in the fight to combat climate change.
While the rain forest burns and the arctic melts, significantly, trees and vegetation soak up greenhouse gasses and there are not enough trees being planted in Britain today to combat our carbon footprint. We are also told that we are rapidly destroying our indigenous wild life and biodiversity by destroying their habitat. The plants and wildlife that inhabit the countryside.
Mental health practitioners tell us of the vital importance of green spaces for emotional well-being and as an aid to recovery from mental ill health. Something that has become very important in recent months.
These are significant issues of our time and are of the highest importance. Yet we are living in a parallel universe. One where greedy developers and landowners are king. Developers battle to concrete over our countryside. They fell any trees that get in their way on the promise of planting new ones, thin saplings that will take decades to mature, all for the pleasure of pocketing big bucks. Before moving on to destroy some other community’s environment. Nowhere is safe.
Powerful planning authorities are, for the most part allowing this to happen. Nobody makes a stand. Nobody says enough is enough. This has got to stop. In their eyes the Green Belt has no value at all. What happened to the ‘climate emergency’ Mr planning officer! A different plan would be your chance to shine!!
Local people ask, beg that their green spaces are left alone, only to be ignored or called ‘nimbys’. Planning departments never fully understand the impact their decisions have on local communities. Does anyone bother to read these objections/consultations? I doubt it.
This plan is very important. If it goes ahead, then it will be a free for all to build on all the green spaces and land owners and developers will only be too pleased.
We don’t need so much housing for local residents. You simply want to encourage Londoners seeking a more rural life to come here. Except there will not be a rural life to enjoy, it will all be destroyed and under concrete.
Our Local Plan should state that it is an unbreakable rule that there must only be development on brown field sites and NO development of any kind on green land.
At some time, we have got to break into the cycle, so why not make it now, before it’s too late.