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My comments on your draft Local Plan “Planning for Growth” Dear Hertsmere Planning Department Objection to the Herstmere Draft Local Plan I strongly object to the Draft 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: – 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 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 This draft plan is based on out-of-date data and in doing so it is over-provisioning housing. The CPRE’S latest report on the state of brownfield in England has found that this previously developed land could accommodate over 1.3m new homes (www.cpre.org.uk 18/11/2021). 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. As a rural village with already congested small roads, this would be untenable. Secondary school places have not been accounted for in this plan, when even currently there is a complete lack of local provision. This is unacceptable and we demand this be considered in the plan. 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 long-term. 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 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. These draft plan proposals do NOT constitute special circumstances for building on the greenbelt. 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 t 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. Road network simply can take now more, and the suggestion that people walk and cycle instead, extremely long distances is untenable. 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. 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. I am also raising a concern about the impact of the draft local plan on the conservation of bat habitats. All bats and bat roosts are legally protected in England pursuant to the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c) Regulations 2010 (as amended) and the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The local plan does not provide any meaningful information about how bat habitats will be protected in the event that the proposed large-scale development goes ahead in the borough. There are multiple sightings of bats and bat roosts throughout Hertsmere’s greenbelt, yet the draft local plan makes no mention of bats nor requirement for survey. Making planning decisions without due consideration of priority species is contrary to the Natural Environment & Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 which applies to all public organisations, including local authorities. Planning authorities have a legal obligation to consider whether bats are likely to be affected by a proposed development. Planning authorities have a duty to request that developers commission an appropriate survey and take account of the presence of bats as a material consideration. I trust you are aware that damaging or destroying a place used by bats for breeding or resting carries CRIMINAL LIABILITY and has led to substantial penalties and costs in recent court cases. Bat crime is committed even if bats are not occupying the roost at the time. It is concerning that Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC) has failed to adequately consult on the subject of bat conservation during this public consultation. 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 ADDITIONAL and FURTHER comments to specific sites as detailed below, namely:- R1 Land North of Watford Road, including Kemprow, including traveller site provision 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. Provision for a Traveller Site should not be close in a village with existing traffic problems, it should be next to a motorway or a brownfield site. The traffic delays on this already busy road have been heavily underestimated in the draft plan. R3 Land South East of Shenley Hill, behind Newberries school 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 pollution. S1 Shenley Grange This would be crippling for the village of Shenley, already busy with traffic on small roads. This area would be a huge loss of beautiful greenbelt separating Shenley and Radlett. This site in right in front of a primary school, creating pollution and increased traffic, disturbing to children. 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. Kemprow between Whitehouse and Adelaide Lodge HEL180 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. NS1 Bowman’s Cross New settlement A devastating proposal which would DECIMATE the character of the borough, connecting the settlements of London Colney and Potters Bar creating urban sprawl. In size, this huge new settlement would be on existing road infrastructure which is already extremely busy, and a huge loss of greenbelt land and associated wildlife. Bordering councils have warned this area would grind to a halt with the current proposal, with the lack of transport links and supporting facilities. Media Quarter, Rowley Lane We object to the loss of 50 hectares of greenbelt and the 1000 extra cars every day coming through the small roads of Radlett. Thank you for receiving my comments. Yours sincerely

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