From: [mailto: On Behalf Of Sent: 18 February 2018 18:34 To: Chay Dempster; Spatial Planning; Ian Reay; Michael Muir; David Andrews; David Barnard; Stephen Boulton; Steve Drury; Dreda Gordon; John Hale; Seamus Quilty; Andrew Williams; Sara Bedford; Jeff Jones; Adam Mitchell Subject: Objection to Planning Application PL\0866\17 (5/2733-17) I can see no justification in the officers reports as to how selection of this site meets "very special circumstances". In fact SADC Planning made the following statement: Hertfordshire County Council as the decision maker should satisfy themselves that the case for very special circumstances overcomes the in principle and any actual harm, namely:- ▪ The site has been identified as containing matters of potentially nationally significant archaeological interests. Whilst the majority of the site has areas of archaeological interest that can be dealt with by condition there is a section of the site which contains burials which may be of national significance and a suitable methodology for protecting these remains needs to be established, either through protecting the remains by burying them, or excavating the site prior to granting permission. ▪ The applicant has not used appropriate methodology to demonstrate that the impact upon the ecology of the site is acceptable, and further information should be sought in this respect. ▪ Consideration as to whether all of the sports facilities are essential to the provision of the school and whether a portion of the site could be retained for agricultural purposes thereby minimising the amount of land that is lost from agricultural purposes. ▪ To assess whether the proposed technical details of the access are acceptable and will result in a safe and functional highway network. It is requested that the provision of the access, visibility splays and road improvements are secured by condition. Further I would say that visibility of the site is far more extensive that the reports states and the huge amount of terraforming of the site required to male flat areas causes considerable harm to the Green Belt. Plus with the Former Wheathampstead Secondary school never assessed then no claim about there being no other sites can possibly be true. Further I see on the HCC website that all school sites are evaluated by 4 points; Q) Is it in the right location? A) No because this site is close to three other secondary schools and far away from the area of need in Harpenden namely Southdown. Q) Will it make the school more effective? A) No see above. Plus poor car, cycle and pedestrian access will mean significant safety issues for pupils and school staff. Q) Is it affordable? A) Of all the sites selected this is demonstrably the most expensive to build on (so much so that HCC are paying EFSA the difference) at a time when HCC are under sever budgetary constraint from central government. Certainly lack of parking and poor travel connections will add to the running cost. Q) What are the effects on the area? A) The school will add to the already congested B653 and add significant traffic to the single track lanes that access the site from the north.This blighting Batford for ever. I also see that the school site evaluation for Buntingford used these criteria; Site size (ha) Adjoining land Detached playing field within 400m Highways impact Vehicular Pedestrian Archaeological site (known) Buildings or uses to be relocated Conservation area Ecology Floodplain Landscape impact Listed buildings RABGB Noise Protected open space Trees Rights of way Topography Whereas the Harpenden School site selection criteria were; Green Belt Policies Landscape Impact Conservation Area/Listed Buildings Archaeology Agricultural land Impact Education Policies Flood Ground Conditions Right of Way Safe and Suitable Access Sustainable Transport Modes Nature Conservation Policies Noise Air Quality Each of the above items were evaluated by consultants but it is not possible to see how the final scores were obtained from the underlying reports in an objective way so the final score seems to be more a matter of prejudice than a transparent objective assessment. In all I see no evidence that the "Very Special Circumstance Criteria" have been met. Rgds From: [mailto: ] Sent: 17 February 2018 12:32 To: Spatial Planning Subject: PL\0866\17 Dear Sirs I recently supported this planning application and am writing to confirm and re-iterate that I remain fully supportive of the proposal for the new secondary school in Harpenden and very much hope that it can now be approved without delay." This has been dragging on for too long - we need a fourth secondary school! There are not enough school places in Harpenden. Over 100 children from Harpenden were allocated a St Albans school in 2017 (and more than 80 children in each of the previous two years). The demand for places within St Albans is also increasing - Harpenden children cannot rely on this provision for the future, as the St Albans schools will be full. The demand for places from Harpenden significantly increases over the next few years and is then sustained at a higher level than previously. Since the current year 6 pupils started reception, 105 permanent primary places have been created in Harpenden (and more in the villages). All these children need secondary places and the existing secondary schools are already full. Hundreds of houses are likely to be planned for Harpenden in the next few years as St Albans District needs to increase its housing targets. It is inevitable that even more school places will be needed.Whathere we like it or not, h All these data and facts, demonstrate that additional places are urgently required (i.e. now, in 2018) and on a sustained and permanent basis after this, confirming the need for a new school in Harpenden. - The Lower Luton Road is appropriate! The site was chosen after many detailed studies by professionals. It was deemed the best option available having regard to all considerations and we therefore support this conclusion. The site is in Green Belt but due to the urgent and sustained need for a new school, the very special circumstances required to justify building on the Green Belt have clearly been fulfilled and this justifies building on a site in the Green Belt. It is clear from the pupil data that the majority of the increase in demand is from children in Harpenden rather than the villages; this supports the location of the school on a site which is as central in the Harpenden Planning Area as possible, enabling ease of access. The site also allows for ease of movement of staff and students between the Trust schools creating a true educational partnership. The site is on existing bus routes supporting opportunities for children to travel. - The proposed highways improvements are good enough! The documents attached to the planning application show that the proposals will not impact highway or pedestrian safety as proposed improvement measures will be put in place. We support these measures and believe that they will enable safe access to and from the school, and will not compromise the free flow of non- school traffic. The proposals include Toucan crossings for use by pedestrians and bikes. - Designed with our children at heart! The school will be housed in brand new, modern buildings designed for a 21st century education. There will be excellent use of WiFi and other technological facilities. There is no compromise on sports facilities. Kind regards (Wheathampstead) -----Original Message----- From: [mailto: ] Sent: 18 February 2018 23:29 To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; David Williams; Teresa Heritage; Annie Brewster; [email protected]; [email protected]; Spatial Planning; Ian Reay; Adam Mitchell; Jeff Jones; Sara Bedford; Andrew Williams; Seamus Quilty; John Hale; Dreda Gordon; Steve Drury; Stephen Boulton; David Barnard; David Andrews Subject: I object to the proposal to build a school in Batford Please represent my views, this is absolutely the wrong place for a school, this dangerous location is too far from the pupils who may need it. It continues the current allocation system that discriminates against pupils outside Harpenden, putting the biggest burden on village and rural families. In particular, the Council has failed to adequately consider safe sustainable options for extending secondary school places that reflect real areas of need. The location is a critical gap that prevents coalescence between neighbouring settlements. These two combined mean the site does not meet the Special Circumstances specified in the National Planning Framework for determining need over harm. I wish to register that I endorse any submission(s) by RSRP on this planning application. Please circulate this to all councillors, thank-you. Regards, From: [mailto: Sent: 14 February 2018 14:46 To: Spatial Planning Subject: PL\0866|17 I recently supported this planning application and am writing to confirm and re-iterate that I remain fully supportive if the proposal for the new secondary school in Harpenden. I very much hope that it can now be approved without delay. Regards, From: [mailto: ] Sent: 14 February 2018 13:42 To: Spatial Planning Subject: FW: Harpenden's proposed new school Importance: High Dear Spatial Planning Team, Please accept the material in the emails below in your own deliberations for the proposed new secondary school in Harpenden. I am writing now to ensure you have the same material and arguments that I have submitted yesterday and today to the committee that is sitting next week to consider this proposal. meeting details The two emails below were sent yesterday/today to all the members of that committee, along with local councillors and my local MP.