SAVE HITCHIN GREEN BELT is a movement and petition to save the Hitchin Green Belt and protect our local environment from increased pollution and traffic congestion. The Council, using the NHDC Local Plan, are applying to remove meadows, fields and trees from the Green Belt and build around 140 houses on three areas, namely Local Plan Sites HT3, HT5 & HT6, or at the top of Grays Lane, West Hill and Lavender Way. The destruction of these green belt areas will be an environmental and ecological disaster ! These areas have not been selected using any environmental or ecological impact study, they are just “offered” by the landowner because of their value or profitability. The following are the key points of our petition: 

1. Destruction of meadows, fields, woodlands and wildlife habitat will destroy the ecological balance of the whole area. These areas form an important natural buffer between the current houses and the sterile farmers’ fields which are barren of wildlife & flora in comparison. They are a haven for wildlife, insects, birds and wild flowers. Living and feeding in these areas are bats, badgers, deer, buzzards, woodpeckers, jays, blackcap, song thrush, to name a few. A beautiful majestic oak tree sits proudly in the centre of Site HT6 for all to admire, but not if the Plan goes ahead, it will become invisible and surrounded by concrete! The sites have been classified as "not contributing" to the Green Belt, but nothing could be further from the truth! The sites are a significant contribution to the Green Belt ! The 2017 Hitchin Calendar shows Site HT5 (see photo) and: "Grays Lane overlooks Hitchin's attractive rural west, as even today, open countryside is never far from the town centre" - well this will not be the case if the council goes ahead with their Plan !

2. Much increased levels of pollution and traffic congestion caused by around 300 more cars travelling down Grays Lane, West Hill, Lavender Way and Oughtonhead Way.  The junction at Grays Lane / Upper Tilehouse Street will be become congested resulting in much added pollution when Upper Tilehouse Street is already one of the most polluted roads in North Herts and already exceeds EU regulations. The same applies to Oughtonhead Way which cannot possibly cope with more traffic as the road is single width owing to parked cars.

3. The Sites border public bridle ways which are very popular for dog walking, exercising and horse riding. The planned developments will significantly impact the general ability for these activities by converting the bridle way to a road and making a junction at the main access at the top of Grays Lane. The current "openness" will be destroyed plus Site HT6 is on the ridge and the development will be seen for miles!

4. The whole ambiance and quality of life of the areas will be transformed and change dramatically from peaceful, quiet roads to busy through ways with traffic going to the estates. The areas are very popular for locals and visitors to walk and exercise. The environmental impact will be immense.

5. Hitchin does not have the infrastructure to support these developments. Schools, nurseries and doctors surgeries are full to capacity and the road network is gridlocked at peak times. All traffic from the proposed Sites will have to pass through the already congested areas.

6. Finally and most import, the Local Plan that advocates the Green Belt destruction is completely outdated. Recent statistics provided by the ONS have shown North Herts does not need as many houses as proposed to be built. Also, the Plan does not take into account or consider the recent housing trends and changes impacted by COVID, Brexit and Climate Change policies. Plus there have been a number of recent developments in Hitchin that were not in the Local Plan. So there is no need to destroy Green Belt. A council meeting was called by the Liberal Democrats with a motion to reassess the numbers and prevent building on Green Belt but this was narrowly rejected. It was stated Green Belt sites were selected because of the "need for affordable houses for Hitchin" - well these developments will certainly not be "affordable" for the people of Hitchin ! 

A recent attempt to remove woodland was stopped due to a local residents actions and the Council backed this up with a TPO on the wood, but now we need to galvanize support and stop this senseless destruction and environmental disaster. Please help by signing our petition and help save our Green Belt. Saving the planet starts at home!

Thank you.     

Note: Although we are focused on the Sites mentioned, we support other Green Belt Sites that are earmarked for development and will be pleased to add here.