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My comments on your draft Local Plan “Planning for Growth” Dear Hertsmere Planning Department, I am raising a strong objection to the Draft Local Plan for Hertsmere regarding the shocking plans to build on 2500 acres of Metropolitan Greenbelt, land which is permanently protected and should not be used for housing or development. The suggestion that this Draft Plan constitutes special circumstances for building on greenbelt, is completely false. 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: – BE1, BE3, BE5, BE6, HEL152, HEL197, HEL218, HEL369, HEL388, HEL601, HEL212, HEL274, HEL175, B3, B2, B1, HEL235, HEL337b, HEL337c, B4, HEL386, HEL502, HEL505, HEL521, PB2, PB3, HEL162, HEL177, HEL216, HEL318, HEL375, R1, R3, HEL214, HEL220, HEL222, HEL231, HEL348/349, HEL390, HEL228a, HEL228b, HEL320, HEL385c, NS1, HEL345, HEL179, HEL 180, HEL199, HEL219/252, HEL509, Media Quarter My reasons for objecting to the building on the above ALL of the sites are listed here: – Clean Air: The Metropolitan Greenbelt is protected land surrounding the conurbation of Greater London. We now have scientific studies linking air pollution to lung cancer and other conditions such as asthma. As we all try and reduce our emissions, the battle we have against climate change must involve the protection of our trees and open green spaces of greenbelt, with a greater understanding of the role the greenbelt plays in sequestering carbon from the atmosphere long-term. With Hertsmere declaring a Climate Emergency, we must act to PROTECT the Greenbelt and not build on it! If this is a plan for the future, then the best plan for our children involves a plan which has clean air at its core. The role of the Metropolitan Greenbelt is to help provide clean air for the whole of the area around London. This is not just a local issue for Hertsmere, it’s an issue which affects us all, no matter where we live. Hertsmere has a responsibility consider the wider impact of decisions that they make locally, the impact on clean air and health of potentially millions of people. Loss of Greenbelt: Inherent to the concept of the Greenbelt is its permanence. 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. Hertsmere should consider itself a guardian of this specially protected land which is characteristic of the borough. Any greenbelt loss would be a loss forever. Size and scale: the sheer size and scale of this shocking proposal to rob Hertsmere of 1025 hectares of greenbelt (equivalent of 2500 acres) is what I object to fully. Noise pollution: children in local areas will be blighted by noise with years of building traffic and then the huge increase in noise pollution with the suggested new settlements. Lack of local infrastructure: small roads already busy with traffic at a standstill can take no more. The focus on development areas should be in brownfield locations with road and public transport access. 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. Covid has shown us how important green open spaces are for the benefit of mental health. Overdevelopment: Local villages and small settlements do not need or want overdevelopment of housing on greenbelt sites, that would fundamentally change their nature. With Covid, Brexit and out of date population growth assumptions, there is not a need to increase housing in this area by 30%. 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, including Bats which are a protected species. 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 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. I want Hertsmere borough council to uphold this pledge, and preserve the greenbelt. Thank you for receiving my comments. Yours sincerely

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