Objection to Draft Minerals and Waste Plan

The following letter was submitted to Hertfordshire County Council by East Herts Green Party Chair, Alex Daar.

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I am writing in response to the Draft Minerals and Waste Plan out for consultation on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.

I object to the proposed development for the following reasons:

• The plan over-estimates the scale of future development and construction activity using outdated assumptions based on 2014 projections which have been proved to be excessive, when compared to the 2021 census data. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) clearly shows that for Hertfordshire, the number of households at the March 2021 Census was more than 30,000 lower than the 513,090 forecast in the 2014-based projections for 2021.
• Paras 7.25 to 7.27 refer to “Potential Future Major Infrastructure Projects for Hertfordshire” which are entirely speculative, including a Hertford Bypass which the text says “may be required” but is not approved or programmed, and will be vigorously opposed by local residents. Para 7.28 notes “other additional new or improved rail line projects” including Crossrail 2, a highly speculative new route which is unlikely to proceed given the cost over runs on Crossrail 1. The conclusion in para. 8.2 of the LAA that “it is recognised that the current stock of sand and gravel reserves in Herts is insufficient to meet future demands” is not justified due to the uncertainty of future demand.
• The plan should focus on recycled aggregate produced from Construction, Demolition and Excavation (CDE) waste recycled from construction sites. Policy 10, “Secondary and Recycled Materials” states that ‘the county council will support the increased use of secondary and recycled materials in order to reduce reliance on land-won aggregates and maximise the amount of inert waste diverted from landfill’. However, the plan does not include any proposals or commitment to implement this policy.
• The plan would result in a huge increase in traffic and pollution with thousands of extra HGV lorries and very difficult access – the A414 east goes through the centre of Harlow, the A414 west through the centre of Hertford and the A10 south through the centre of Cheshunt. The alternative access route - down the Rye Road Toll Road to the Aggregates railway sidings in Ratty's Lane passes through residential areas around Rye House.
• The plan will create a vast industrialised area, with the secondary commercial aim of creating a landfill site, or the area being declared “brownfield” post extraction, encouraging house building resulting in suburban sprawl across the Essex County border.
• The site will destroy a crucial section of the Harcamlow Way, one of the earliest of the waymarked walking trails in this part of the country developed by Fred Matthews and Harry Bitten of the West Essex Ramblers' Association in the 1970s. The footpath is frequented by ramblers, joggers, dog walkers and other council taxpayers of Stanstead Abbotts, Hunsdon and Harlow. The loss of this amenity is totally unacceptable.
• The plan will result in the destruction of ancient woodland and wildlife habitat for birds and small mammals. However, the site sits in the Green Belt - an area of beautiful countryside in the Impact Risk Zones for the Lea Valley Special Protection Area, Rye Meads SSSI, Hunsdon Mead SSSI and its surrounding areas used by SPA birds. Stanstead Abbott’s Conservation Area and Stanstead Bury Registered Park and Garden (grade II listed) lie adjacent to the site.
• The plan will result in widespread exposure to harmful noise, dust and diesel fumes for residents including children in the area, and particularly those attending St. Andrews Primary School in Stanstead Abbotts.
• The plan fails to address the threat to the water supply and aquifers in an area already facing a severe water shortage.

I also take great exception to the letter to residents being headed “Sustainable Growth” without any justification. Why does the minerals and waste planning policy team believe that the wanton and wilful destruction of productive arable farmland in the green belt is in anyway “Sustainable Growth”? This isn’t just spin, it’s an outright lie and as such is totally unacceptable. What you are actually proposing is ecocide and you will attempt to force this plan through despite the valid objections of the council taxpayers who you are supposed to serve because you consider corporate greed to be more important. Do you not have children and grandchildren too? Do you not have souls? Do you not care about the future of our species and planet? We do not own the land that you want to destroy, we are its custodians, and we hold it in trust for our descendants, but you want to destroy it anyway, despite the objections of the majority. This will not only make Hertfordshire poorer, it will make democracy poorer too, you risk unleashing forces that that have been dormant for hundreds of years and I urge you to reconsider.