MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE TOWN ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 27TH MARCH 2014 AT 7.16PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, SIMPSON CENTRE, STOTFOLD
Committee Members present:Mrs M Clarey (Chaired meeting)
A CooperMrs M Cooper
S HayesT Naisbitt
Also present:Councillors Mrs Hyde and Saunders, and the Clerk
420.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Mrs Bundock, Collier and Dhaliwal. In the absence of Councillor Collier as Chairman, Councillor Mrs Clarey as Vice-Chairman Chaired the meeting.
421.DISCLOSURE OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Councillors Mrs Clarey and Naisbitt declared an interest in the item relating to the North Herts Local Plan consultation should any discussions take place regarding the Letchworth District Gardeners Association, as Councillor Mrs Clarey is associated with it, and Councillor Naisbitt is a member.
422.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & RESPONSES
There were none.
423.CLERK’S REPORT – CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED, AND MATTERS ARISING FOR INFORMATION
None to report.
424.NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL PLAN
Members were previously provided with extracts of the North Herts Local Plan consultation relating to the proposed site North of Letchworth.
Resolved that the following responses are forwarded from this Council:
Q1 Do you have any comments on the Strategic Housing Market Assessment?
A1 no comment
Q2 Is the potential 10,700 dwelling target the correct number to plan for in light of the National Planning Policy Framework and all other evidence presented here?
A2 probably not, in the light of suitable infrastructure across the development area and neighbouring party area to support the population increase.
Q3 Please rank the seven strategic sites in order of preference, where 1 indicates the site you would be happiest to see developed and 7 indicates the site you least wish to see developed
A3 (order of preferred sites)
South West of Hitchin4
North of Letchworth7
East of Luton1
Rush Green5
North of Stevenage2
North East of Stevenage3
West of Stevenage6
Q4 Do you have any comments on any of the strategic sites discussed in part 2 (and listed in question 3 above)?
A4 Site North of Letchworth (how the site directly impacts on Stotfold)
We note that cross border communication is lacking, and would consider that due to the close proximity of this particular site, Stotfold Town Council should have been informed of the consultation, and ask if Central Beds Council have been consulted as a neighbouring authority.
Our objection points:
1.A potentially large volume of traffic would travel to the A1 via the A507, which already suffers huge congestion problems at rush hours.
2.The proposed development goes through the Greenway (cycle track, which goes completely against North Herts District Council’s most recent Green Infrastructure Plan.
3.Visual impact – the fact that the proposed development site lies in an attractive valley between Letchworth and Stotfold seems to have gone unnoticed by planners.
4.Destruction of allotments – councils have an obligation to provide allotments and this proposal is destroying part of a long established allotment site. Many Stotfold residents have allotment plots here and are members of the Letchworth District Gardeners Association.
5.There are concerns that the proposal will blur the boundaries between Letchworth, Stotfold and Fairfield, resulting in Stotfold becoming the northern edge of a large conurbation.
6.The proposed number of houses will put pressure on local water sources, and increase run-off water and flash flooding, with the resulting potential pollution of water sources.
If the proposal for the North Letchworth site is to go ahead we request the following mitigation measures:
1.Great care should be given to the landscape structure planting/mitigation around the development edge, to provide a clear visual and functional gap between Letchworth and Stotfold, as referred to in 1.5 of the consultation document.
2.We would like to see enhanced walking and cycling routes through from the cycle track in Norton Road into Letchworth, through the new development, referred to in 4.17 bullet point three in the Landscape Sensitivity Study for Land North of Letchworth.
3.Enhanced bus services through the new development to Stotfold and back to Letchworth, via Fairfield, especially for young people and workers in the evening. This service does not currently exist.
4.The new development should follow the principles of the original ‘Garden City’, as outlined in the Promoters Summary on Page 21.
5.We point out that the developers for the 1000 scheduled for Arlesey have to contribute to works on the A507/A1 junction. Traffic on this part of the A507 Norton Road to junction 10 already has more traffic than needed for a dual carriageway, so they developers for the proposed site North of Letchworth should pay for a dual carriageway and bridge for Kingfisher Way which crosses it.
425.BUDGET & RESERVES UPDATE
Members considered the budget update and reserves status and it was:
Resolved that that any remaining funds available in the Committee budget at the end of the financial year, is vired to a new Earmarked Reserves.
426.ITEMS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY
There were no items for information.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 7.50pm
CHAIRMANDATED
Town Enh – 27/03/131