Object

Representation ID: 10248

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Lynn Tippett-Wilson

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

• Renhold is an ancient village that comprises of 5 ends (Salph, Church, Top, Green and Water) as well as three new estates. It has a distinctive character that attracts people to the settling in the village. Having an enormous business park totally urban in character would be out of keeping. It would not be possible to retain a rural character with substantial building and employment units being imposed on the village.
• The Neighbourhood Plan also includes development of 500 houses along St. Neots Road in Great Barford. The cumulative impact of such housing and potential employment development, being in such close proximity to one another effectively merges Great Barford and Renhold. Implementation of the local plan as it stands will effectively destroy the distinctiveness of local villages.
• The impact of noise on local residents is a concern – particularly during construction and operational phases.
• The local area is abundantly rich with wildlife. Wildlife habitats will be obliterated with the development planned. We (humans) do not have the right to destroy habitats of our fellow earth residents, a sentiment particularly relevant now when we understand the impact to the environment when we disturb wildlife habitats.
• There is already significant congestion at the A421 Great Barford junction with queues regularly extending beyond the slip road onto the A421 at peak times. Traffic volumes will increase but the village road network is not suitable for the increase in traffic. Access onto nearby village roads would require significant remodelling of the roundabouts and junctions, with all the additional disruption and delays that the modification works would entail. Bedford Borough Council has recognised the importance of restricting traffic through Renhold by implementing measures to reduce traffic e.g. access and speed restrictions/cameras. A large employment land allocation will alter the traffic fundamentally which is at odds with Bedford Borough Councils past objectives.
• The COVID pandemic brought about a fundamental and lasting change to working patterns.. Most people now work from home and businesses are embracing this behaviour and closing offices. What is the demand for a business park at Water End?
• Many warehouses have been build along the A421 which has blighted the landscape. Surely enough have been built and the countryside, villages and wildlife can enjoy what remains?