I went to a meeting at the village hall in Knebworth to hear about the so-called Knebworth Options Report.
I wanted to refer to my previous post, probably on livejournal, where I commented on the planning meeting where the Parish Council attempted to free themselves from the mandate they received at a meeting in 1996 binding them to oppose unconditionally any application for planning permission to develop on the Green Belt on the edge of the current village. As far as I can recall there was no enthusiasm for permitting development on the Green Belt at that meeting, nor has the Survey and resulting Knebworth Parish Plan.
However, once again the Knebworth Parish Council convened this meeting to push the idea of developing on the Green Belt. This time the Trojan Horse was the relocation of Lowe's, which they somehow believe they must help to fund. There is some concern about the congestion caused by delivery lorries coming to Lowe's, and it is equally clear from remarks made by Peter Lowe that they recognise that they have outgrown the site. Of course Peter would be delighted with the idea that he can get financial help from local government.
The plan involves, perhaps unsurprisingly, Henry Lytton-Cobbold selling off a considerable amount of his land for development. At 1.8 million pounds per acre net of planning gain costs this suits him very well. My doubt is that there is anything in this for the ordinary resident of Knebworth.
It was all conveniently ignored that in the NHDC Local Development Framework it was considered that further development of Knebworth was undesirable.
You are urged to view the evidence yourself at the following websites:
A site to promote the idea, created by Knebworth House
Another site that Knebworth House wishes to develop
My views on the Knebworth Options proposals are as follows:
Greenfield development would involve 35-40% of 'affordable homes' which would bring hundreds of housing benefits claimants into the village.I do not believe that it is the job of the Parish Council to get involved in subsidising the relocation of a commercial enterprise such as Chas Lowe's.
I strongly believe that it is not the job of the Parish Council to support the development of Green Belt land in order to benefit the Lytton Cobbold family to the tune of possibly tens of millions of pounds, whether paid to the Knebworth House Educational and Preservation Trust or not.
I believe that the Lowes site, which is on a main road that will become busier and busier with every passing year is the right place to locate community facilities.
I believe that with the government paying each GP in the UK more than a quarter of a million pounds a year they can jolly well pay for their own surgery. I cannot see that Knebworth really needs a GP's surgery anyway.
If you are a Knebworth resident I strongly urge you to register your 'vote' at the options report website.
