Comment

Representation ID: 9847

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Ms Nicola Chapman

I am writing to express my concern with the proposal of Policy HOU5 Abbeyfield, West of Elstow.

Although the village of Elstow is bypassed it still remains on a daily basis a rat run between Bedford and Luton, as people cut through to avoid the roundabouts and traffic lights. Each day there are queues to come out of the village towards Bedford and in the event of an accident on the bypass or surrounding area the village and surrounding roads are instantly gridlocked. The proposal of potentially 200 houses, with on average 2 cars per household, means an extra 400 cars a day. This is a significant increase in traffic and more importantly pollution .

This proposed area is away from any other housing so creates a seperate part of the village with no link to the rest, making it stand out on it's own. Elstow only has 1 primary school which i believe is full, both primaries in Wixams are also full, so to is Wilstead. Currently one resident I have spoken to has to travel to Haynes as she was unable to secure a place for her daughter anywhere nearer.
Further housing without an increase of local schooling means yet again extra traffic and pollution at a time we are supposed to be attempting to try to reduce emissions.Doctors and Dentists are also full in the area and residents struggle to get an appointment for either.

The area concerned over the years, since the Abbeyfield Road was built, has become high in wildlife with badgers, newts, deer etc and currently I believe there are Red Kites nesting in the trees at the end of Church End.
These birds were saved from national extinction and were successfully reintroduced to England. Red Kites are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Over the years Elstow has grown signicantly with housing and businesses but cannot continue to sustain future growth so I urge you to reconsider this policy in the plans.