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

As a resident in Barkway for many years, I’m writing in response to the disproportionate proposed building development in Barkway (BK3). I raise serious concerns about the negative impact this will have on the village and question the reasons for why this site specifically continues to be chosen, especially with the tangible dissatisfaction from the local community and as evidenced from previous comments made to the NH planning department about the applications to develop BK3.

I object to BK3 being part of the local plan for many reasons but raise a few additional points now. I also raise questions which I would be grateful if more information could be provided.

• First and foremost it is disappointing that there have not been updates directly to residents for the proposed large and impactful development. It appears that much of the process is occurring behind closed doors with lack of opportunity for comment, which of course is not in the spirit of working with the community and lacks a completely transparent process. Ideally, residents should receive updates from NHDC and/or the Inspector on this important issue but this has not been forthcoming. Please can you inform me if this should be the case and how this can be achieved?
• I am also unclear as to how much of the land belongs to the council and what the NHDC’s view is on additional houses to be built over and above the BK3 allocation and whether a school will be built or not? There is also confusion on the exact total number of new houses allocated to be built in Barkway, and especially on how the 208 figure was arrived at in the local plan. Barkway is not suitable for a mass influx of housing for obvious reasons already well documented, with objections raised by the parish council and residents. Please can you provide accurate figures on total allocated new housing in Barkway and how BK3 impacts on these numbers and the justification for it? The Parish council has said that ‘how the figures have been arrived is not available’.

I urge persons involved in this project to weigh up the factors objectively. However, the bottom line is that with only a modest population present in Barkway it makes absolutely no sense to unbalance the village with a huge development.