We're all concerned about the huge amount of development that's going on and being talked about, not just in and around Dacorum but everywhere.
Residents in Piccotts End are particularly concerned as knowledge of several potential developments becomes known.
We have LA1, about 390 homes at the top of Marchmont Fields. There's LA2 as you go into the Old Town from Piccotts End. An application for five dwellings on Marchmont Farm.
Julie, Goverdhan and Alex however, have received a number of emails from residents of Piccotts End, alarmed at the recent speculative application (21/04508/MOA) to DBC to build 390 homes on the Leighton Buzzard Road.
Many will be aware that this application is inconsistent with Dacorum’s current or local plan. A green belt proposal, the application is not likely to be supported by Officers. There are other concerns regarding this speculative application too.
There is a process, known as a ‘Call in’ whereby councillors (Julie, Goverdhan and Alex), have a formal opportunity to put forward a case, often to prevent an officer decision and the matter has to be heard at the relevant Development Control committee meeting. We three councillors will most definitely do this on behalf of our residents.
The application is on land that's not in the ward but Councillor Guest of Chaulden and Warners End ward, has already alerted officers that she too will be calling this in. Despite being outside of Grovehill and Piccotts End, this does affect Grovehill and Piccotts End residents. Hence, Julie, Goverdhan and Alex's intention to call this in, if it comes to it.
Officers have advised that if the process goes to committee, it is likely to be heard in April. Residents and councillors will all have the opportunity to speak but we're confident that the application will fail as it doesn't fit in with our local plan.
We'll try our best to keep residents up to date. In the meantime, please share as much information as possible, with your neighbours and co-residents and please consider registering your objections. You can do that here.
HINTS
Things have changed a lot over the years and objecting on some grounds, just doesn't get heard as it's deemed irrelevant. Please don't object on things like view, value of property, parking, etc.
With LA1 and LA2 potentially surrounding Piccotts End and adding a considerable number of dwellings to the area, it is felt that the strongest objection is simply that of overcrowding. Yes, it's that simple.
Issues such as infrastructure are also irrelevant. It's down to bodies such as utility companies to deliver electricity, gas, water and sewage disposal, for example. Education and health care are also matters which although warrant concern, are the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council.
'Infrastructure deficit' can be raised, however. The inadequacy of current infrastructure should surely be addressed, prior to introducing more homes into the area.
And of course there's green belt. Many, many residents have concerns regarding our shrinking green spaces, biodiversity and wildlife. We want to keep as much as we can, right?
Some may have received an information pack from Luton Rising, the owners of Luton Airport, regarding expansion plans and a public consultation.
On this side of Hemel Hempstead as well as other parts of Dacorum, aircraft noise has been an issue for many, many years and most of us don’t want the situation to get worse.
The motorway between our M1 junction (junction 8) and Milton Keynes, seem continually to be worked on and no doubt, any expansion to Luton Airport will involve some motorway works.
One argument is for expansion is employment and indeed employment opportunities can't be ignored. On the other hand, how many Dacorum residents are directly or even indirectly employed by Luton Airport?
“Increasing the economy of the area” Hmm… Luton District Council receives a substantial sum from the airport, not just in taxes. Always thought to be some kind of compensation, the arrangement is quite formal. So much so, that Luton District Council was in trouble when the pandemic started, due to loss of this income from the airport. Surrounding boroughs and districts don’t receive anything. Why should Dacorum residents agree or even support something that adversely affects them and for which another area is receiving income?
We therefore strongly urge all residents to have their say, voice their concerns and participate in the consultation.
This is yet another airport expansion proposal and consultation – but this one is really important since it’s the biggest yet. Luton Borough Council own the Airport using the company of London Luton Airport ltd - now rebranded “Luton Rising” – who are consulting between now and April 4th on further massive expansion, to go from 18 to 32 million passengers a year; which would involve building a second Terminal, more car parks and more airport stands on the open green space of Wigmore Park, flying up to 80,000 more planes a year over this area, and an additional 50,000 more passenger journeys a day on local roads and rail.
The noise-reduction commitments made in the previous expansion (2013) to get from 9 to 18 million passengers have not of course been delivered, which is why the Airport broke its noise planning limits in 2017-2019. COVID has of course knocked things back, and coupled with the increasing urgency of tackling the Climate Crisis it may be that people do decide to fly more responsibly and the demand for significant further expansion may not materialise in the timeframe expected.
Following the consultation, Luton Rising the company which owns the Airport for Luton borough Council, will have to apply to the National Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order, such is the magnitude of what is being proposed. There is an online virtual exhibition, plus in-person exhibition events. The timetable for these, along with other details, can be found at https://lutonrising.org.uk/consultation/.
The Development Consent Order for massive expansion of Luton Airport is being fronted by Luton Rising – the new name for the same old company LLAL which owns the Airport for Luton Council.
Luton Councillors are trying to get a DCO (Development Consent Order) for massive further expansion of the airport, which would have huge environmental impacts on the entire area. Do you really want up to 80,000 more planes a year, increased carbon emissions from the aircraft and from 50,000 more passenger journeys a day, incessant noise and clogged up roads and rail services? Particularly when the airport broke its commitment to control noise during the current expansion, thanks to ‘mismanagement’ perhaps induced by financial incentivisation from – the Council!
They’re consulting on the DCO plans between now and 4th April. A polished PR website has been set up with plenty of spin about ‘our airport’, ‘our community’, ‘our planet’ which tries to sugar-coat a plan which would almost double the airport’s capacity yet again, wreak noise blight and additional pollution on communities all around, and worsen the climate crisis which the Council has vowed to tackle. And in doing all this, Luton Rising has spent over £340 million of public money which it could have invested in diversifying the local economy to face the future’s challenges, rather than burning it to pursue on the kerosene-fuelled obsessions of the past.
LADACAN represents people in communities all around Luton Airport who believe this essentially rural area would be blighted if further massive expansion of the Airport went ahead.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The impacts on quality of life in the entire local area if this proposal succeeds would be:
60% more flights overall, with many compressed into the very early morning and late evening by the low-cost airlines which favour Luton – so 70% more flights at night (11pm to 7am) and 50% more during the day
A significant increase in the noise footprint which badly impacts communities all around the Airport, with no mitigation: the latest planes sound just as loud, and promised airspace modernisation is still a decade away
Up to 40,000 additional passenger journeys each day by car to and from the Airport on local roads (not just the M1, but the A505 and the Lower Luton Road), as well as many more rail users
60% increase in carbon emissions from the flights, at a crucial time when the impacts of Climate Change are now obvious – and aviation emissions are three times more damaging due to contrails and high altitude pollutants
Impacts on health and well-being due to noise disturbance at night and early in the morning, and noise impacts on schools which affect learning
A reduction in Air Quality at and around the airfield due to the increased numbers of cars and aircraft, as well as the particulates from kerosene aircraft fuel and from aircraft brakes and tyres
Loss of valuable habitat – Wigmore Park, a County Wildlife Site and Asset of Community Value due to its wild orchids and ancient hedgerows, as well as a vital buffer between local housing and the airfield, will be concreted over to build Terminal 2, more aircraft stands and massive car parks.
NOTE: The average short-haul flight emits between 13 and 20 tonnes of CO2.
UPDATE - 23rd February 2022
PROPOSED MOTION TO FULL COUNCIL 23rd February 2022 Proposed by Councillor Jane Timmis
"I move that Dacorum Borough Council strongly opposes Luton Airport’s further planned expansion, from 18 million passengers per annum to 32 million passengers per annum by 2040, with the resulting negative impacts of increased noise, emissions and surface transport. This disproportionately impacts the Watling Ward villages in Dacorum, and more widely our Borough and much of Hertfordshire. Given National Climate Change goals, air travel awareness, and noise and environmental pollution levels, it cannot be justified. This cannot go unchallenged and so Dacorum Borough Council will therefore commit to oppose the expansion of the airport at every opportunity."
YAY!!!! Wootton Drive paths are about to get a little TLC! 🙂
That PERMIT NUMBER by the way, is BR6401000 259541. Works start 28th February and continue 'till 1st May.
UPDATE - 8th March 2022
After checking the HCC website, residents were concerned that only one side of Wootton Drive was going to be resurfaced... the side that to them, didn't really need doing!
After a couple of weeks, the first part looks done and it's on the other side!!! Repairs/ resurfacing however, appear to be taking place on both sides of the road.
The first bit of resurfacing Wootton Drive, looks pretty much done.And preparations begin to start the other side. GREAT!!!!
On Thursday 6th January, Julie, Alex and Goverdhan, had an on-line meeting with DBC officers, other officials and residents, to discuss the planned development at Laidon Square.
The meeting went well over the allocated hour but was most constructive, with councillors only supporting residents' concerns.
The plan is for thirty-two affordable dwellings, comprising flats and houses, with the promise that they will be for local (Dacorum) residents only.
Situated at the very top of Marchmont Fields, the development is NOT part of LA-1 but will be part of the emergency access to the LA-1 site.
Residents and councillors continually made reference to the dire parking situation in Leven Way, Laidon Square and Lomond Road, expressing concern that the development may lead to even more problems. An on-going issue, Julie, Goverdhan and Alex fully supported residents, requesting that the matter be addressed in some way.
Other concerns included the removal of trees, the safety of children playing in the roads, privacy from adjacent buildings, the view over Marchmont Fields and even potential anti-social behaviour from mopeds and motorbikes.
“We can’t stop development. That is a cold fact but working together as we've done before in other parts of the ward, perhaps we stand a good chance of getting the best all-round deal.” Says Alex.
“It’s a particular plus that the ‘developer’ is the local authority and therefore has an obvious duty of care to residents. In the meeting, it seemed that DBC officers were quite attentive and appeared to be taking notes all the time.”
"This is one of the most beautiful views in Hemel Hempstead and we need to do what we can, to ensure that it's not completely taken away."
Councillors had another meeting with officers on Friday 14th January when they were presented with clarification on some points that were raised at the previous meeting as well as a FAQ which will be published soon.
Julie, Alex and Goverdhan were promised that more meetings would be arranged with residents and councillors, to discuss issues and progress.
Although not directly affected, one Piccotts End resident was most concerned about the entire development of Marchmont Fields. Alex volunteered his contact details and will be meeting up with the resident to discuss further.
This morning (17th January), Julie, Goverdhan and Alex, met up with a DBC officer to discuss potential 'verge hardening' in the area.
Four or five locations have been identified with those closest to the development site, now being given priority. We've been told that the next stage will involve highways engineers coming out to conduct surveys and then as is always done with verge hardening schemes, a consultation with residents will soon follow.
It is of course in everyone's interest that the Laidon Square development ticks as many boxes as possible, so we'll do our best to keep you informed. 🙂
Everyone knows that drugs are not a Grovehill problem but something that adversely affects people across the world. In recent times, many dopeheads (cannabis users) have become quite brazen and are quite unphased by potential consequence of smoking cannabis in the open, in populated areas, with members of the public passing by.
If the stuff didn't stink so bad, most of us wouldn't probably notice but the truth is that the heavy, long lingering smell of weed has now become quite anti-social.
Before lock-down, Alex has seen dopeheads smoking their stuff in the open while having a pint at Jarman Park. Restaurant owners and staff simply don't seem to mind!
Very recently, it's become a thing to get stoned in our subways. With close proximity to residential housing, the horrible smell of weed has led some residents to complain that doors and windows need to be kept shut and that they can't even keep their kids in their own gardens!
Dopehead smoking weed in local underpass, with complete disregard to those who live nearby or other who may use the underpass.
We're aware that some people have been busted but we need more done about this very anti-social problem.
We're also aware that people smoking cannabis in their own property, is now rapidly becoming an equally anti-social thing for neighbours and we're trying to suss out just what to do about it.
In the meantime, we suggest that if you know that the dopeheads are occupying a council property, that you contact Dacorum Borough Council. If the residency is private, you should still contact DBC (anti-social behaviour team) but please also report the incident to the police on 101.
Like al Grovehill residents, we want to do something about this before it seriously gets out of hand, so perhaps the more of us that complain, the quicker something will be done. Alex has already contacted our Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd, expressing concern.
UPDATE - 24th January 2022
On 20th January, I received an e-mail from David Lloyd's office, advising that the matter had been passed on to the local Chief Inspector and would be investigated.
David has never let us down, so I'm hopeful that something will be done about this.
UPDATE - 25th January 2022
While out litter-picking Wootton Drive earlier this afternoon, I found a discarded joint near the path that leads to the subway shown in the picture at the top of this post.
UPDATE - 25th January 2022
Over the past couple of weeks, things have quietened down in our subways but dopeheads are still present.
After having written to the Police and Crime Commissioner, I've been told that Dacorum Police are actually on the case and that any intelligence should be called in on 101 or reported on this link: https://www.herts.police.uk/Report
Alex spotted this late this morning and has already reported it.
"What is the matter with people? Selfish, inconsiderate, thoughtless and above all dirty people who don't give a damn about anything or anyone." says Alex. 🙁
UPDATE - 23rd November 2021
Updates on stories are usually made days, weeks or months, after the post was published, not hours! Alex drove past the location of the fly tip at about 2:30 and noticed that the rubbish had already been cleared. Another big THANK YOU to our Gren Safe & Clean team! 😀
This week, two fridges have been found in separate locations and on separate days / evenings, in Grovehill. The first one (pictured above), was found in St. Agnells Lane, kind of opposite Astley Cooper School.
A BIG SHOUT OUT: As always, DBC's Green Safe & Clean team respond amazingly quickly and the fridge / freezer pictured above, was picked up within twenty-four hours of being reported. THANKS GUYS! 🙂
This fridge / freezer was found in Yeomans Ride and was spotted by Alex and Julie while out walking last night. It'll be reported first thing Monday morning.
It does seem odd, like really coincidental, that two fridge / freezers have been found on the same side of Grovehill at roughly the same time.
It's been an issue for many years and residents don't want to wait for a fatality until something's done.
So, in response to residents' concerns, Police and Crime Commissioner, David Lloyd, has deployed a mobile speed trap for a second consecutive month, here in Grovehill. Pictured is the police van parked up on Washington Avenue this afternoon afternoon (12th November). Last month a similar van was on St. Agnells Lane.
It's a shame that we have to resort to such measures but on the other hand, residents are reassured that someone is listening to them.
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