Agenda item

An opportunity for members of the public to make statements and ask questions in accordance with the rules as to Public Participation.

Mr Royal on behalf of West Hemel Action Group made representation in respect to Agenda item 11 relating to ‘Dacorum Borough site allocations development plan document & local allocations master plan’

Mr Royal on behalf of West Hemel Action Group made representation in respect to Agenda item 11 relating to ‘Dacorum Borough site allocations development plan document & local allocations master plan’. He made the following statement:

‘The West Hemel Action Group (WHAG), wish to speak on behalf of the residents of West and wider Hemel in relation to the planned adoption of the Site Allocations DPD by Dacorum Borough Council & particularly in relation to the development of the Site Allocation LA3.

I think we need to state from the outset, that WHAG and other local groups that we liaise with, for example the Bourne End Village Association, and the vast majority of the residents of Hemel and particularly West Hemel have always been, and continue to be fervently against the development at LA3. Whilst we appreciate & understand the need for house building in the UK, and have never argued against that principal, it still remains clear from all those that live, work and commute in the Hemel area, and even by some of the consultants & experts that DBC themselves have directly engaged, for example the results of the Jacobs Report relating to traffic, that development at LA3 due to the scale and location of the site, will spiral West Hemel into a “no go” zone for current & future generations.

Although the residents of Hemel consider that consultations carried out in relation to the Core Strategy before and the Site Allocations and Master plan since, were nothing more than procedural steps taken by DBC as opposed to a true activity to seek opinion and views to help develop something that works for all, DBC will have gathered enough evidence based upon numbers alone, of the major key concerns & fears held by the constituents you serve, relating to LA3. At these final and critical junctures for the Site Allocations, we ask you again toactually listen and act positively to the voice of those that you are here to work for as opposed to brush aside with disregard.

Our key points for consideration by the Dacorum Borough Council Cabinet and equally our areas for major concern are as follows:

·        The Gypsy & Traveller Site – the location & timing of which, is flawed in multiple aspects and will be in contravention of national policy.

·        The number of planned properties for LA3 – which are already developing into figures 22% greater than DBC had planned and consulted on over the past few years, which in turn simply adds greater negativity & impact to all the issues previously raised through consultations.

·        The approach that developers are already communicating to the public through their own consultations in relation to the development of LA3.

In relation to Gypsy & Traveller sites; the whole approach to this aspect of the LA3 development is strewn with poor planning, misdirection and conflict with national policy. Through methods of stealth, DBC has misled the public in respect to the location of the Gypsy & Traveller site, referring to “potential” locations through consultations and more recently. DBC remain ambiguous in their communications, commenting that locations could move, yet through our own discussions with developers, it is clear that they have no intention moving the proposed Gypsy & Traveller location and are working with DBC planning on that basis. The current planned approach by the developers for phasing the LA3 development, will mean that the Gypsy & Traveller site could be in situ many years ahead of any local new housing development, if any, leaving current local residents with a Gypsy & Traveller site that is blatantly in contravention with national policy for new Gypsy & Traveller sites, for example a site that does not provide inclusion with the local community, in a location that is dramatically unsuitable in every aspect. It would appear to us also that the desires and wants of a minority local travelling community are being considered ahead of those of the existing settled community, which in itself could be argued to be discriminatory.

In respect to the number of planned properties for LA3. Again, it is very apparent at this stage that yet again, local residents have been misled based upon an increase in numbers from 900 to 1100 (being 22%) a number that developers are quoting clearly & loudly. Of course we expect the DBC response to be that, these increased figures are yet to be tested through planning applications, but it strikes concern, that if DBC are working so closely with developers, as we have been led to believe, that this increase in numbers could not be dealt with before it is in the public domain. This is exacerbated further by the fact that DBC rolled over so easily to the developers requests to remove the cap on numbers through the Site Allocations process. You will understand, based upon resident’s experiences to date, our reluctance to believe anything other than DBC having the developer’s best interests at heart and not those that voted for them, and how this will likely translate during application reviews.

Both of the above aspects drive us to one conclusion, which is that DBC have undertaken formal consultations based upon what looks now to be false information and could in itself, suggest the consultations undertaken are flawed & void.

Finally, we have considerable concern in relation to the phasing and approach developers are intending to take in relation to the whole LA3 development. Through our own direct communications with developers and their own public communications, it is clear that they intend to start with 350 homes at the north east of the development, however this will come with no new incremental facilities, pre-development road improvements, schools, etc, and no guarantees of when these will come. Even for 350 new homes in the area, this will put an incredible strain, likely to breaking point, on existing already stretched local infrastructure & facilities, including, shops, GP’s, increase in traffic, etc. This combined with the development of a Gypsy & Traveller site, so remote from initial planned & guaranteed phases of development, that it will in no way be part of the joined up integrated approach for Gypsy & Traveller sites, that provides community inclusion, that being the approach that DBC have attempted to portray. DBC must make a public stand now as part of its Site Allocations approval, that they will hold developers to task over this approach.

To close, WHAG, again on behalf of local Hemel residents, would like to express our dismay at developers holding their second public consultation on the same day as this Cabinet Meeting, thus meaning that many local residents had to make the choice over which event to attend. This is either by design, or shows a complete breakdown in communications between DBC and developers either of which is completely unsatisfactory or instils absolutely no confidence in DBC’s ability to manage the developers as we move forward.

Thank you for listening.’

See discussion in itemCA/066/17 ‘Dacorum Borough Site Allocations Development Plan Document & Local Allocations Master Plan’.