Woman criticises council over unsuitable access road for new homes in Dacorum village

A woman from Flamsted has criticised Dacorum Borough Council for giving the go ahead to plans that use an unsuitable access.

Jennifer Olearys, of Trowley Hill Road, objected to the plans on the grounds that the proposed access road was unsuitable, she says it is too narrow and unsafe.

The plans for a redevelopment of the site to provide six dwellings with parking and landscaping on land r/o 12 Trowley Hill Road, Flamstead, St Albans, were given permission last month.

She has lived in the house for over 20 years and has continual problems with lorries damaging her walls when going down the road.

She said: "We are not objecting to the homes being built, I understand that homes need to be built, it is the road being used for access that concerned me.

"There are plenty of other roads that could be used but the council refused to take them into consideration.

"It is narrow, it is dangerous when you come out on to the main road, it is just not suitable.

"It is tight, and can be difficult to manoeuvre, lorries can get down there, if they manoeuvre properly and there's no cars nearby making it hard to get down.

"The problem we have is that this road should not be used as an access road for the new homes.

"It's dangerous to our houses and it is dangerous to the public when vehicles pull out onto the main road.

"Permission was granted despite two independent reports from visiting fire officers (with appliances) stating that it would be either impossible or very difficult (mm to spare on accessing) to access the development from the highway, also the councillors granted permission even though they had photographic evidence of the current damage to existing properties (one, grade II listed).

"I think the council is putting commercial gain above public safety.

"They do not listen to the public, at the meeting there is no right of reply for us.

"I have wrote a letter to the council but not heard anything back yet.

"I have been in contact with the fire department as I believe that this is a matter of public safety."

A spokesperson for Dacorum Borough Council said: "Hertfordshire County Council Highways and Fire and Rescue both considered this application and raised no objection.

"The Development Management Committee resolved to approve the application in March 2020.

"All information and assessment is stated publicly in the committee report published online."

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