Campaigners call to action over plans for huge housing development in Hemel Hempstead

The LA3 scheme was for 900 new homes to the west of Hemel Hempstead, and dates back to 2013.

But campaigners from West Hemel Action Group, Dacroum Enviromental Forum, and Bourne End Village Association say there are myriad problems with how the scheme has since evolved, including:

*Increasing the number of new homes by a third to 1,200;

*New school provision shifting to become "temporary accommodation" in other schools out of the immediate area;

*A promised new health centre instead becoming the expansion of other health facilities out of the immediate area;

*Rural roads losing their protection.

West Hemel Action Group has called on residents to voice their concerns at a Dacorum Development Management Committee meeting on November 28, where the project could be approved.

Henry Wallis, treasurer of the campaign group, said: "We have been campaigning against the development for more than five years to protect the interests of local residents.

"The application is suddenly going up for approval without all documents being made for public consultation.

"We believe that approval of the LA3 application should be deferred to allow more time for consideration by everyone of all documents submitted.

"West Hemel Action Group is urging residents to make their views heard by attending the Development Management Committee meeting, as well as writing to local parliamentary candidates and councillors."

The group says while it accepts more house are needed in the area, it is essential the LA3 development does not impact on existing residents.

"WHAG does not believe that the plans for LA3 have yet demonstrated this on a number of grounds, including traffic management, and local

infrastructure.

"There are no plans for a new doctors’ surgery in LA3 and the developers are not proposing a new school in the first phase of the development. This will put further pressure on

existing facilities.

"Traffic would also be impacted around LA3, specifically Chaulden, Warners End and Boxmoor, as well as more widely across Hemel."

A Dacorum Borough Bouncil