I share the concerns of my constituents in the Baldock area about possible over-development towards Bygrave.
Planning is a District Council matter and the draft Local Plan, to be decided and published by North Herts District Council in November, will set out development sites across the District which will be put out for consultation with local residents and stakeholders. I am in touch with local Baldock Councillors, who have briefed me on the issue and are as concerned as I am at what may be proposed for Baldock. I have been contacted by a number of Baldock and Bygrave residents and I am taking up their concerns with the Leader of NHDC. I will be urging all residents to respond to the consultation when it is available and I shall be putting forward my own concerns.
We all agree there is a need for housing in our area, but I do think it is important that overall numbers should be limited in order to protect our local environment and that proposed development sites should be allocated in an equitable way across the District.
Although some smaller schemes have been discussed for Letchworth and Hitchin, I and local Baldock area councillors fear worse for the area between Baldock and Bygrave.
Ed Miliband visited Stevenage recently to announce that Labour is proposing that Stevenage and Luton should have the 'right to grow' and this would involve much more building as they spread into North Hertfordshire. North Herts would not only have to provide for its own housing needs, but theirs too. I will oppose this at any planning inquiry.