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OBJECTION TO PLAN - Radlett

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OBJECTION to Hertsmere Local Plan - Radlett

Dear Sir/Madam

I strongly object to the Local Plan for Hertsmere, which would do harm to the borough.

I object to building on the greenbelt in ANY location in Hertsmere and on ALL sites named in this Draft Plan (in no particular order) namely: -

R1, R3, HEL, HEL179, HEL180, HEL199, HEL219/252, HEL345, HEL509, HEL214, HEL220, HEL222, HEL231

In his speech on 6th October 2021, The Prime Minister clearly stated that new homes would be built on brownfield sites and not green fields. This is now backed up by the Budget announcement prioritizing brownfield redevelopment. We want Hertsmere Borough Council to uphold this pledge, and preserve the greenbelt. This draft plan is based on out-of-date data and in doing so it is over-provisioning housing. 

Radlett Strategy

This proposed plan would have devastating effects on Radlett, changing the fundamental nature of the village as we know it, and increasing air pollution and climate change through desecrating the natural environment. The near 30% increase in housing planned for Radlett is a shocking proposal. With 4 people per household this would mean a 45% increase in the population of Radlett with no supporting infrastructure. As a rural village with already congested small roads, this would be untenable.

The following comments apply to ALL sites in the proposed draft plan 

(as listed above) 

Loss of Greenbelt: 

The Greenbelt has a unique role to play in capturing and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere longterm. We cannot fight Climate Change without it. In our battle for clean air, the Metropolitan Greenbelt is our most valuable asset and must be preserved without question. Inherent to the concept of the Greenbelt is its PERMANANCE. The Greenbelt has a crucial role to play in separating settlements, which otherwise would result in an urban sprawl of Radlett, Elstree, Bushey, Borehamwood, Shenley and Potters Bar, taking from those areas their unique local character and countryside atmosphere.

Size and scale: the sheer size and scale of the proposal to rob Hertsmere of 1025 hectares of greenbelt is what we object to fully.

Air Pollution: clean air must be our priority in our battle against climate change and with Hertsmere declaring a climate change emergency we must not destroy the very greenbelt that is fundamental in sequestering carbon. We must plan for clean air to be a priority for our children in the Borough.

Noise pollution: schools border sites R1 and R3 and local communities surrounding with be blighted by noise with years of building traffic.

Lack of local infrastructure: small roads already busy with traffic at a standstill can take no more.

Amenity space: these proposed sites are covered with numerous public rights of way and bridleways - used for hundreds of years by local residents enjoying the countryside, and these would be lost with residents losing their rights to cross these.

Overdevelopment: Radlett does not need or want overdevelopment of housing on greenbelt sites that would fundamentally change its nature.

Character of the Village of Radlett: People live in Radlett for its character and village feel. It is a countryside village with close links to London, however it has small streets, limited infrastructure and is identified by its rural and tranquil atmosphere.

Harm to local wildlife: the greenbelt in Hertsmere is the natural habitat for many forms of wildlife and birds, including grey Herons, thrushes, gulls, peregrines, badgers, muntjac deer and rare tree sparrows. Owls, red kites, Kestrels, Buzzards, Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Necked Woodpeckers, bats, moles, snakes are amongst some of the species whose habitats would be destroyed. There is also evidence of a habitat of Great Crested Newts in Kemprow, affecting sites HEL180, R1 and HEL231

Out of date data and assumptions: The data used is now out of date and is an exaggeration of what would be required. By contrast, Climate Change is a special circumstance and this is exactly why the Greenbelt must be preserved for future generations.

In addition to my comments above regarding ALL sites in the proposed draft plan, I note below ADDITIONAL and FURTHER comments to specific sites as detailed below, namely:-

R1 Land North of Watford Road, including Kemprow, including traveller site provision.

Please see my points above. I would like to add these specific comments regarding this site:-Watford Road is already an extremely busy thoroughfare and this site is next to a primary school which would expose children to higher levels of pollution. This site is a farm and the land should be used for farming fruit and vegetables. Provision for a Traveller Site is not in keeping with the area and should not be close to a village with existing traffic problems, it should be next to a motorway on a brownfield site. There are listed buildings in the area, a tree preservation area, 2 local wildlife sites and a public footpath. There is no footpath at all on a lot of the road outside of these proposed sites, limited bus service and no cycling routes or room for them either.

R3 Land South East of Shenley Hill, behind Newberries school

Please see my points above. I would like to add these specific comments regarding this site:-

This site is a designated site of geological interest and a designated wildlife site.

Residents and school children enjoy clean air, hearing birds and seeing natural wildlife at this site. There would be a huge increase in traffic through small residential roads – a safety concern for children, as well as the associated pollution. Children already suffer from asthma and allergies and families have chosen to live here exactly because of the proximity to this natural open space. This site is greenbelt, is a designated RIG (puddingstone). It adjoins Theobald Street local wildlife site.

Aldenham Glebe HEL345 

Roundbush Garden Centre has been based here for 60 years, with their family having worked the land for 100 years. We object to this beautiful site being proposed for housing of any kind. This is also within the conservation area of Roundbush. There are listed buildings in the area and the land is greenbelt.

Kemprow between Whitehouse and Adelaide Lodge HEL180

This site is greenbelt land that was somehow approved planning for a 4 bed house that is clearly not falling in line with the planning policy of very special circumstances. This land certainly shouldn’t be permitted planning for a further 15 houses. There is also evidence of a habitat of endangered wildlife

I would like to attend a public meeting if there is one planned by Hertsmere Council. Please inform of the details.

Thank you for receiving my comments

Yours sincerely