LA3 plans due to go before full cabinet next week

Dacorum Borough Council will vote whether to approve the updated Site Allocations document, the planning blueprint for Dacorum up to 2031 which was adopted two-and-a-half years ago.

One of the major developments of this scheme, known as LA3, would be built between Chaulden and Pouchen End Lane.

A spokesman for the West Hemel Action Group, a group of residents opposed to the LA3 scheme, wants Hemelites to turn out in force to show their feelings.

They said: “We would encourage as many people as possible to attend the council meeting so we can fill the public gallery and show the council the strength of public feeling about this issue.

“This is our final chance to challenge DBC on LA3 and ensure we have on formal record the issues that, as West Hemel residents, we know will come with the development of LA3.

“After this meeting, our next opportunity to have any input to LA3 will be later this year when the proposals go to the Planning Inspector for review.

“WHAG plan to be fully involved at that stage and ensure that the Planning Inspector understands the views of the residents of Hemel and the failures, as we see them, of Dacorum Borough Council in the planning of a development at LA3.”

The council’s over-arching scheme includes six major schemes, although LA3 is easily the largest.

LA1 covers 300 homes in Marchmont Farm in Hemel, while LA2 proposes 80 homes in Hemel Old Town.

LA4 focuses on 60 new homes in the Hanbury’s area of Berkhamsted, LA5 proposes 150 homes in Icknield Way to the west of Tring, and LA6 is for 60 homes on Chesham Road and Molyneaux Avenue in Bovingdon.

The latest comment on the council website says: “The Focused Changes consultation only covered changes we wish to make to the Site Allocations document.

“It does not include any changes that may be required to the draft master plans for each of the Local Allocations (housing sites on land to be removed from the Green Belt).”

The meeting will be held at the Civic Centre from 7.30pm on January 20.

Questions have to be submitted by 4pm on Friday, using the form on the Dacorum Borough Council website.

30 minutes are allocated in each council meeting for questions from the public, so WHAG are hoping to take advantage of this with the help of local residents.

Anyone with any questions about this process or about what questions to ask is invited to email [email protected]