With Hatfield likely to suffer most under WHBC expansion plans, a group of residents have mobilised and plan to march in protest on Friday, 4 January.

Hatfield is already in the frame for taking the bulk of the new housing planned by WHBC. There are five sites in Hatfield (two smallest already listed as not suitable) and only three in WGC (even though they are listed as WGC1, WGC4, and WGC5 - with WGC5 already listed as not suitable). Links to the WHBC plans may be found below.

 

 

Of the five Hatfield sites, Hat 4 and Hat 5 are listed as not suitable (although the primary school capacity and road access constraints seem to be just as relevant to Hat 3, which is considered to be suitable). The biggest and most likely are Hat 1 and Hat 2.

Hat 1 is expected to accommodate 2,000 homes (including a 15-pitch gypsy and travellers site) and will encompass Hatfield Garden Village and be bounded by Hatfield Avenue, Coopers Green Lane and the A1M. It would turn Hatfield Garden Village into a residential suburb with only a road border separating it from the business park and other parts of Hatfield. It also encroaches on to the Green Belt and with possible development of the WGC 1 site puts further pressure on the Salisbury Line, which will eventually lead to the coalescence / merging of Hatfield and WGC.

Residents have formed The Garden Village Preservation Society, set up an online petition and a web site. They are also planning to hold a protest march on Friday, 4 January 2013. Starting from Green Lanes School at 10:00 and walking to WHBC offices in WGC.

Hat 2 will encroach on to the recently opened Ellenbrook Fields County Park (which took several years to establish) and the Hatfield Aviation Heritage Trail. It will border Salisbury Garden Village, Astwick Manor and the Business Park. It will be expected to accommodate 1,400 homes (and if Hat 1 is not viable then quite likely the travellers pitch will be included here). There does not appear to be any organised opposition from residents here. Although, there are a high number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (mainly students) and the site is listed for future expansion rather than within the plan period so there may not be an immediate threat.

Hat 3 is much smaller (175 homes of which 115 would be in Hatfield, the others would come under St Albans) falling within the Green Belt between A1057 Hatfield Road and Wilkins Green Lane. It seems to incorporate Great Nast Hyde House - a Hatfield heritage asset.

Hat 4 and Hat 5 in the same area but are even smaller (but are on Green Belt and border the Alban Way) and both have been listed as not suitable.

The WHBC plans are open to public consultation which ends on Thursday, 31 January 2013. A WGC protest group against the 700-home WGC 4 site (Panshanger airfield) is already up and running.

2013 is likely to be a make or break year for Hatfield. A final government decision is expected on the incinerator (although that is subject to legal challenges). Ironically, the incinerator site (designated as WeG 8) would have been a less controversial site for additional housing (provided public access and views from the crest of the hill were preserved) however it has been ruled out because of the incinerator proposals.

There are two meeting points for the petition march:

■The first meeting point will be at the front of Green Lanes School at 10:00 am.
■The second meeting point will be at Gosling Sports Park at 10:45 am.
■If you are unable to participate in the march you can meet us at the offices, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6AE (between 11:30am – 12:00pm).


Links:

WGC
There are only 3 WGC sites (even though they are listed as WGC1, WGC4, and WGC5, and WGC5 is considered not suitable)
http://consult.welhat.gov.uk/portal/planning_policy/local_plan_consultation_november_2012/lfhoua?pointId=s1347459028353#section-s1347459028353

Hatfield
Hatfield has 5 sites (Hat2 - involves the loss of Ellenbrook Fields and part of the DH heritage trail; Hat 4, Hat 5 listed as not suitable)
http://consult.welhat.gov.uk/portal/planning_policy/local_plan_consultation_november_2012/lfhoua?pointId=s1348066028948#section-s1348066028948

WHBC consultation (Ends 31 January 2013)
http://consult.welhat.gov.uk/portal/planning_policy/local_plan_consultation_november_2012/ecs

Garden Village Preservation Society (GVPS): http://www.savehatfieldgreenbelt.co.uk

GVPS online petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/163/804/681/hatfield-garden-village-expansion/