As many of you will be aware, Buntingford is facing yet another major housing application. Our Local Planning Authority (EHDC) has received details of a plan for 350 dwellings to be built on land East of the A10, the in-fill to the bypass. This application is virtually identical to one received in 2017 which both EHDC and Buntingford Town Council objected to. The response of residents to the current application has been a unanimous rejection. Over 1000 objections to the plan have been registered on EHDC's planning portal with only a handful thinking it worthwhile. Buntingford Town Council and the Civic Society have objected strongly to the application, as have the CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England).

No date has yet been set for the application to be heard by EHDC's Development Management Committee but one can only hope that common sense will prevail and the application will once again be rejected. To my mind to even contemplate another 350 dwellings is beyond belief. At least another 700 vehicles would be added to local roads and already stretched local services put under even more pressure. Enough is enough!

I read that the government are considering changing planning rules so that home extensions will no longer require planning permission. I am sure that in many cases this will be fine, but I am also sure that in some cases this could cause huge issues between neighbours.

On a happier note, planning for the Christmas Market is underway - it will be on Friday 25th November this year. The Isabel Hospice Lights of Love ceremony will also take place on that date, along with the switching on of the Christmas Lights. It is hoped that the full complement of lights will be available this year subject to completion of remedial work on some of the building fixings.

The Civic Society will again be laying a wreath at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday, which this year is on 13th November.

Graham Bonner, Chairman, Buntingford Civic Society

If you have any queries about Buntingford Civic Society or issues you would like to raise, you can email the Chairman direct at chairman@buntingfordcivic.org.uk.

The November issue of the Buntingford Journal will be available from the usual retailers from 28th October.

More information about the Buntingford Civic Society can be found here and membership forms can be found here.

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