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EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Thu 30 Aug, 2018 12:45 pm
by jbond
We're getting down to the end game now on the EHDC District Plan. Please :-

- Turn up to the EHDC offices 11-Sep 18:30. We need a big crowd to force the councillors into a walk of shame as they go in to vote on adoption of the District Plan. https://www.facebook.com/events/231227874219408/

- Before 11 Sept, write a letter to the Hertford EHDC councillors asking them to vote against adoption. Contact details here:-
http://democracy.eastherts.gov.uk/mgMem ... aspx?bcr=1
Summarised here:- https://goo.gl/q1vPVq

Steve Cousins, Bob Deering, Jan Goodeve, Linda Haysey, Ryan Henson, Michael McMullen, Patricia Moore, Paul Phillips, Linda Radford, Peter Ruffles, Suzanne Rutland-Barsby, Mari Stevenson,

This has to be one of the most important votes in the councillor's current 4 year term. Remind them they are up for re-election in only 8 months. Pretty much every objection in the recent rounds of consultation has been ignored. The final modifications suggested by the Inspector so she could sign off were quite minor, but weaken the plan by making it more ambiguous and open ended. It's a blank cheque for developers.

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Sat 01 Sep, 2018 6:45 am
by TcfL
Presume your main complaint is the Ware development which, having watched the Inspector's review, I was very surprised to hear little to no input from HCC Highways on road infrastructure. In fact I don't even recall them being represented, or speaking on any of the days. I have long been a critic of how poor they are at keeping the traffic flowing around Hertford/Ware and posting minimal objections to parking requirements for new developments.

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Sat 01 Sep, 2018 9:37 am
by jbond
It's true that my main focus is on Ware. But living in Ware, I'm a frequent visitor to Hertford and like everyone else I travel through to Welwyn and beyond.

- The Mead lane dev is going to really block the road past the station and into the Bluecoats roundabout. There is no other route in and out. So that number of dwellings with that number of extra cars is going to really hurt.

- The Sele Farm extension appears to make sense. Except that's also a big development on the far side of town that either adds to A414 congestion or past Hertford N for all those people just getting into the town centre to shop.

- Taking Green Belt at the far end of Bengeo, next to the proposed quarry? Really?

Ware's development plans are limited in the District Plan by the lack of a Hertford bypass. But frankly so is Hertford's or they should be. A414, A119, B1502, Rush Green are all at capacity now outside the summer holidays. Another 2000 dwellings in the immediate area will bring the area to a standstill. And that's before you add in the extra traffic from Gilston, Hoddesdon, Welwyn, etc.

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Tue 04 Sep, 2018 8:59 am
by TcfL
Couldn't agree more with your summary. Unfortunately, East Herts needs an approved plan to be able control building and also has to meet the numbers imposed on it by government. A Hertford by-pass is a wish thing by HCC (I don't think elections are due until 2021 so safe there) as it would just attract A1/A10 traffic but I see no proposal,or promise of funding for it or any improvements to the A10 (which struggles to cope now). IMO HCC Highways needs to get up to date and spend some money on improving traffic flow along the roads it already has and requiring more from developers to improve infrastructure whilst spending less time/money on promoting projects such as car share, cycle paths, car clubs, none of which show any benefit to traffic movement. PS. Am a firm believer that the more concrete you lay the more cars you attract.

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Tue 04 Sep, 2018 2:30 pm
by monkeyman1974
TcfL wrote:
Tue 04 Sep, 2018 8:59 am
Couldn't agree more with your summary. Unfortunately, East Herts needs an approved plan to be able control building and also has to meet the numbers imposed on it by government. A Hertford by-pass is a wish thing by HCC (I don't think elections are due until 2021 so safe there) as it would just attract A1/A10 traffic but I see no proposal,or promise of funding for it or any improvements to the A10 (which struggles to cope now). IMO HCC Highways needs to get up to date and spend some money on improving traffic flow along the roads it already has and requiring more from developers to improve infrastructure whilst spending less time/money on promoting projects such as car share, cycle paths, car clubs, none of which show any benefit to traffic movement. PS. Am a firm believer that the more concrete you lay the more cars you attract.
I think that's what the bypass is supposed to do, ease the transit between east and west, something like 70% in Hertford is just flowing thru. I appreciate it might take traffic which would otherwise use M25 or A505 but that's a reasonably thin band..

And yes, you're probably right, the easier it is to use, the more cars will use it

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Tue 04 Sep, 2018 4:23 pm
by jbond
Note that in the District Plan, the intention is to improve the bus service between the two stations by introducing a bus lane on both sides of Gascoyne Way! They do seem to recognise that would be completely impossible without a bypass to cut the traffic in half first.

The bypass currently has no route, no funding, is estimated at £155,000,000 - £175,000,00, for delivery by 2024, in order to have an effect in the second half of the District Plan and allow extra housing to be built between 2028 and 2033. And pigs might fly. :lol:

I think it was Councillor Dr Andrew Stevenson who was all in favour of a park and ride scheme for both Ware and Hertford. When what we actually need is to be able to park by the stations and ride out on the train. I don't really know what he had in mind. Perhaps to turn the Presdale Pit into a car park and bus people into Ware and Hertford town centres?

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Tue 04 Sep, 2018 8:26 pm
by monkeyman1974
jesus wept - solve traffic problem with by-pass; then cause it again by halving capacity (bus lane)

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Tue 04 Sep, 2018 10:43 pm
by Steve
monkeyman1974 wrote:
Tue 04 Sep, 2018 8:26 pm
jesus wept - solve traffic problem with by-pass; then cause it again by halving capacity (bus lane)
The idea is that a bypass would remove traffic from Gascoyne Way and allow the spare capacity to be used for a rapid transit system going east/west across the county.

The Local Transport Plan (LPT4) talks about "A passenger transit link offering greater speeds and reliability than traditional bus services, linking Hemel Hempstead Rail Station in the west to Welwyn Garden City in the east, with potential future extensions to Hertford and Harlow". It''a a recognition that east/west public transport in Hertfordshire is inadequate and requires improvement. However, this, like the bypass, is purely an aspiration.

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Wed 05 Sep, 2018 1:11 pm
by TcfL
Agree, but having read https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/media- ... n-2018.pdf and taking into account that Hertford does not even get a mention in the top six STTs, I think extending any bus route to Hertford/Harlow is along way off, and that's before they even try to 'miracle away' the rail bridge on Hertingfordbury Rd.

Re: EHDC District Plan - Vote on adoption 11-Sept

Posted: Mon 10 Sep, 2018 12:52 pm
by jbond
Last call. EHDC Vote on Adoption of the District Plan

On Tuesday evening, EHDC will vote on adoption of the District Plan including the proposed Sele and Mead Lane developments. We need a big crowd to remind councillors of the depth of feeling from their constituents about the plan.

18:30 for 19:00 Tuesday 11 Sept, EHDC Offices, Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8EQ

There is limited room inside the hall and in the overflow room so you may not get in, but it's still worth turning up to join the crowd outside. The meetings will be webcast. https://eastherts.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

Agenda
http://democracy.eastherts.gov.uk/ieLis ... d=3380&J=1
http://democracy.eastherts.gov.uk/ieLis ... d=3461&J=1

If you know your councillors on sight, please try and see how they vote and when they put their hands up, and then report back.