Another Threat to Little Gaddesden
You may have heard of a proposal to develop Hemel Gardens Communities to the north of Hemel, between the Link Road and Water End on the east side of the Hemel/Leighton Buzzard Road.
The proposal is eventually to develop 11,000 new houses at the back of Woodhall Farm and Grove Hill. This is effectively a new small town. The proposal also envisages a new road linking the M1 at Junction 8 and the Leighton Buzzard Road, the route of which has not been decided.
Little Gaddesden Parish Council is very concerned about this proposed development in the Green Belt, so close to our village and to Great Gaddesden , Potten and Nettleden. If it goes ahead it could have serious implications for the village, Ashridge, the Green Belt and the Chiltern AONB
From our village’s point of view, the particular issues are:
- The swallowing up of such a large swathe of Green Belt which was designed to protect the countryside around Hemel.
- The closeness of the development to the Chilterns AONB in general and Ashridge in particular, just at a time when footfall within the SSSI/SAC is supposed to be reduced.
- The increase in traffic for Little Gaddesden, Ringshall and Nettleden as more and more people use us as a cut-through to the Ashridge Estate and Monument Drive and as a rat-run for increased north-bound traffic discharging from the new strategic road but seeking to avoid congestion at the Water End bridge.
- The increase in traffic in surrounding villages, particularly Water End and Potten End,
The proposal is in the discussion stage and DBC are carrying out a survey to canvas views.
Here is the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HemelGardenCommunitiesVision
LG Parish Council have replied to the survey and a copy of our comments is attached.
Hemel Garden Community Vision Survey LGPC
We would encourage you to reply to the survey which must be submitted by 11 December. There is not much time, so please act straightaway. The more replies to the survey the more effect they will have .