High Leigh Hoddesdon, Author at High Leigh Hoddesdon News

Paul McDiarmid from Lands Improvement Holdings sends residents unapologetic letter

Recently residents have received a letter from Paul McDiarmid of Lands Improvement Holdings, or as they now refer to themselves ‘Lands Improvement’.

This unapologetic letter states the time and place of their meeting where residents can ask the developers questions. It also states that the closure of Lord Street is expected to last no longer than 8 weeks and a total of 3 months of works. This seems a little hopeful based on the works carried out on Dinant Link Road dumbbell roundabout, which overran with multiple issues.

Make your voice known to any workers on Lord Street after the 7th January (in relation to these works), they aren’t welcome here.

Lord Street Works Start on 7th January 2019

Please message Councillor Paul Mason at Hertfordshire County Council about this pressing matter: [email protected]

We hope Paul Mason will choose to listen to residents of Lord Street and Hoddesdon.

We’ve been tricked regarding the use of Lord Street by Hertfordshire County Council. We do understand that utility companies have powers to carry out works on public highways, but this is beside the point.

What we don’t understand is why Hertfordshire County Council or another party didn’t disclose this at The Spotlight, Broxbourne Civic Hall. We were told Lord Street would only be used for emergency access and access to limited parts of the development!

It is not right that local authorities are allowed to commit such deceitful actions. It’s time for Hertfordshire County Council to come clean about how this mess regarding Lord Street occurred and why they didn’t tell us earlier.

Now residents of Lord Street and Hoddesdon are faced with a closure up to 15 weeks, with total permission to carry out various works for 18 months!

“The only part of the development to take access from Lord Street will be the proposed sports pitches and pavilion and a handful of houses to the south of Lord Street. That has been the case since very early on in the planning of High Leigh and is what was presented at the Spotlight.” – Jeff Stack, CEO Broxbroune Borough Council.

If you think you may be affected by these works on Lord Street then please see the Your Rights page and lodge multiple complaints.

Jeff Stack on Lord Street Closure

We reached out to Jeff Stack, the Chief Executive of Broxbourne Borough Council. We asked him about the heavily disputed Lord Street closure and works for High Leigh Garden Village.

It is concerning that not many councillors will stand up for residents of Lord Street and adjoining roads.

Lord Street Works Public Exhibition – 14th January 2019

To download a copy of the letter please click here: High Leigh Garden Village – Update and Invitation
To download a copy of the associated plan please click here: Traffic Management Plan Lord Street January 2019

Mark Kemp on overnight works regarding High Leigh Garden Village

For clarity the planning permission states: “No construction work or delivery of materials relating to this permission shall be carried out on any Sunday, Public or Bank Holiday nor at any other time, except between the hours of 8.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 8.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. on Saturdays. Reason – to protect neighbouring amenity” – planning permission

Phil Bibby on Lord Street Closure for High Leigh Garden Village

We reached out to Phil Bibby, who is the Chairman of Hertfordshire Highways and Environment in regards to the upcoming Lord Street closure for High Leigh Garden Village. Below are the questions we asked him.

High Leigh Garden Village – Nuisances, noise, closures and failures

Planning permission for the High Leigh Garden Village development was contentious from the start, with multiple objections from residents during the initial stages. Some of the concerns raised by residents have been ignored, including the use of Lord Street and Dinant link road – now these issues that were raised many years ago are cropping up.

Lands Improvement Holdings to Close Lord Street for High Leigh Garden Village Development

The above picture is when Thames Water were carrying out works in 2016, I’m sure the residents of Lord Street remember this well. Anyone who lives near or regularly uses Lord Street will realise what a pain the road is. It has very limited parking, so often cars park on both sides of the road, creating a slalom for vehicles using it. For people who don’t live in Hoddesdon, Lord street is the main link between a large amount of properties and the town centre, it is also the main way to access the A10 and subsequently the M25.