We can all agree we face a major housing shortage.  So how do we meet that need, especially for affordable housing?
Sadly our council has shown no vision. They have washed their hands of any has also chosen to ignore thousands of responses to previous consultations.
We are in favour of more housing, and some of the proposals being brought forward are sensible, but it is a question of scale, impact and better planning. School places, leadership role, and rely on local landowners to bring sites forward. There has been scant regard for the required infrastructure, whether existing or future. As a result, WGC is at risk of being overwhelmed by an increase in size of over 50%.
We believe the existing proposals are unbalanced, poorly thought through and need to be challenged. The Council’s “Strategic Green Corridor” actually contains the majority of the housing – including the massive development of land to the east of WGC, where our Council has apparently accepted the building of 1350 homes by East Herts Council on the edge of our garden city, as well as the totally inappropriate Symondshyde proposal.
There are serious alternatives that the Council has ignored. Engagement with North Herts and other neighbouring authorities on a new garden city is one very significant measure that could reduce the load on WGC, but there are others too. Our Council transport and the environment are all serious issues that are not adequately covered in the plan. We believe our community deserves better.
Nigel Quinton
LibDem prospective parliamentary candidate for Welwyn Hatfield