Codicote Neighbourhood Plan 2024 - 2031 Submission

I live on the B656, Codicote Road, and am very concerned about the lack of traffic and pedestrian mitigation that these plans will create given the increase in traffic using an already busy, narrow and dangerous road. (At points two lorries cannot pass each other without mounting the pavement)

The North Herts Local Plan 2011 identified four major development sites in Codicote, building 412 homes. The Neighbourhood Plan shows that most Codicote homes have two cars. So the implication is 824 more cars.

The Neighbourhood Plan identifies increasing congestion along the B656 as a major concern (2.1.5, 7.2.1, 7.2..4 & 7.2.5) especially as most residents travel by car to work (3.2.9 & 7.2.3). The B656 is the main route to access the A1M and is also used as a rat-run when the A1M is frequently jammed.

Furthermore there are expected to be a 20% increase in lorry movements along the Codicote Road.

The last version of the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan identified a site for 40 houses at the Vineyards on Codicote Road. The WHBC planners also recommended an additional 240 home site above Singlers Marsh which would have fed directly onto the Codicote Road (This site was subsequently not included but the developer is keen to raise it again). So the potential increase in cars could be 1340 over the next few years.

Amazingly the 2011 North Herts Local Plan states that no traffic mitigation would be necessary for the four identified sites. I would suggest that, 13 years later, the situation has changed dramatically and it is now much worse.

The proposed Neighbourhood Plan just asks HCC roads to consider this issue when they get individual detailed planning applications.

I suggest that HCC needs to consider the wider impact of all these developments on the Codicote Road, including access to the A1M, which is the major bottle neck, to get to a ‘joined up’ approach to resolve this dangerous problem.

Under COD 18, promoting Wildlife Corridors, I would recommend extending the ambition by promoting the creation of a Mimram Valley Green Corridor along the length of the Mimram.

By achieving Landscape Designation it would:
a/ help protect the landscape and heritage
b/ create a continuous green corridor of good quality habitat for wildlife
c/ enable a public access route from source to confluence, so people can enjoy the cultural and natural heritage of the Mimram Valley.

Parts of this already exist with Panshanger and Tewin Local Landscape Designation. It is included as a strategy in the Welwyn Parish Neighbourhood Plan but it needs to extend upstream. By including this as part of the Codicote Neighbourhood Plan it would promote the ambition and help achieve its implementation.