LHVT Suggested Resident Letter In Response To Amendments To Planning Application 23/1508/OUT

/ lhvt

LHVT SUGGESTED RESIDENT LETTER  IN RESPONSE TO AMENDMENTS TO PLANNING APPLICATION 23/1508/OUT – PLEASE SUBMIT  BY 21 OCTOBER 2024 by email to  consult.planning@hertsmere.gov.uk quoting ref 23/1508/OUT or directly on HBC’s portal

Dear Madam

I am a resident of Letchmore Heath.

I have read the amendments filed on 30 September and maintain my objection to planning application 23/1508/OUT for the reasons previously given and the following :

  1. The amended scheme does not pass the test of very special circumstances. This is still inappropriate development in the Green Belt. Introducing a new woodland of nearly 8 acres and an orchard of 1.5 acres will destroy the openness of this area and damage views from the right of way.
  2. The new planting will take a long time to mature, much of it is deciduous and will be ineffective in winter and, in many places, it will never be high enough to screen the BESS.
  3. The substantial new planting proposed greatly adds to the risk of any fire spreading. It is contrary to issued guidance for distance of vegetation from the BESS and as it grows this risk will increase.
  4. The BESS, even with the reduced footprint will still intrude on the wide open space and spoil the long and short views and the aspect of Letchmore Heath and its setting as a Conservation Area. It will still be completely visible from Bhaktivedanta Manor. It remains one of the biggest in the world. Despite the reduction in size the storage amount is the same and is completely inappropriate in this location.
  5. I am concerned that the same amount of storage will be packed into a lesser number of batteries. Increasing battery density introduces other risks such as increased risk of fire and additional noise from cooling equipment.
  6. The entire community has grave concerns about noise that we will be exposed to and its effect on our health. As you know Environmental Health have admitted that the noise even at a long distance would be audible and annoying whilst occurring 24/7. Although the applicant now says it will accept a noise condition that complies with Council policy it has not produced any new report or evidence to suggest this is possible and its own noise report shows this is not achievable.
  7. It is doubtful that the amount of water will be sufficient for firefighting; new guidance requires water is available to cool surrounding areas outside the BESS and this has not been accounted for.
  8. I am still very concerned that there will only be one roadway into the development. This is contrary to guidance yet the applicant has done nothing to address this.
  9. I note that Elstree Aerodrome has also objected to the application and that carries substantial weight as their response to the application is mandated by CAA guidelines.

This application is still entirely unsuited to this location and has unacceptable levels of risk and I strongly urge the Council to reject it.

[ PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS]