Local Elections May 2026 – Opinions on Local Issues from Welwyn East Candidates

People decide how to vote in Local Elections for many different reasons: national politics, local candidate preference, local issues, etc. As a registered charity, WPAG is politically neutral. Whenever there are local elections, we pose a short list of questions to all the candidates standing in the wards in Welwyn Parish (Welwyn West and Welwyn East). This page shows the answers from the candidates standing in Welwyn East. The answers from Welwyn West candidates can be found here.

We asked six questions of the ten candidates standing in Welwyn East. Candidates were given nine full days to respond. This page provides the answers that were received, verbatim (though the web page formatting is by WPAG), in the order that they were received. Some of these replies are longer than others, which may reflect the depth of knowledge, or just the writing style, of the candidate.

Durk Reyner (Conservatives) – answers to each question were received Sun 19th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Opposes the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Supports the Neighbourhood Plan in the referendum
– Keen to reduce impact of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish

Claire Hunt (Conservatives) – answers to each question were received Sun 19th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Opposes the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Supports the Neighbourhood Plan in the referendum
– Keen to reduce impact of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish

George von Bülow (Labour) – answers to each question were received Sun 19th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Offers no opinion on the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Objects to certain aspects of the Neighbourhood Plan
– Offers no opinion about the effect of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish

Dave Bartlett (Liberal Democrats) – answers to each question were received Sun 19th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Offers no opinion on the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Supports the Neighbourhood Plan, with certain caveats
– Offers no opinion about the effect of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish

Jason Payne (Liberal Democrats) – answers to each question were received Sun 19th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Offers no opinion on the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Supports the Neighbourhood Plan
– Offers no opinion about the effect of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish

Mark Castle (Reform Party) – answers to each question were received late (by request) on Mon 20th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Opposes the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Keen to reduce impact of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish
– Welwyn Parish Councillors are unable to comment on the Neighbourhood Plan

John Robinson (Reform Party) – answers to each question were received late (by request) on Mon 20th April
WPAG summary of candidate’s position on our campaigning issues:
– Opposes the possibility of a New Road (Digswell) development
– Supports the Neighbourhood Plan in the referendum
– Keen to reduce impact of the new Local Plan on Welwyn Parish

Peter Costello (Labour) – no response received as of 20th April

William Berrington (Green Party) – no response received as of 20th April

Andrew Morrison (Green Party) – no response received as of 20th April

Response from Durk Reyner (Conservatives)

1. Ignoring national politics/policies, what are the local issues relating to amenities, environment, infrastructure and planning that you think most concern Welwyn East residents, whether within their immediate communities or the wider locality ?

The main issues I am hearing from residents on the doorstep are:

Pressure to build on Green Belt land.
The large scale of new housing proposals and the impact on the character of our villages.
The poor condition of local roads, which has gotten worse this year.

Overall, people want to see their area protected as a village and its unique style.

2. Could you let us know what your stance is on the issues you’ve highlighted in the previous question, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year ?

I have spent a lot of time knocking on doors to speak with local residents. There is huge concern about proposals for new dwellings on our Green Belt, and I believe protecting our environment and the Green Belt is very important. I will oppose any development that is not appropriate and spoils the local countryside.

I would work with residents and other councillors to raise concerns and challenge proposals where the above is challenged.

In regard to the condition of our roads, I would work with the County Councillor to push for repairs, better drain clearance and sensible improvements. I also would support improvements to potential safety measures where appropriate.

3. How would you work to address or support these local issues if you are elected (being realistic about what can be achieved as a borough councillor who may or may not be part of a governing administration) ?

As a Borough Councillor, I would:

Take part in decisions on the Local Plan and speak up for all people of Welwyn East.
Work with others to oppose unsuitable development.
Support local facilities and help protect community assets.
Raise issues on behalf of residents and make sure their views are heard.

The Conservative group are currently in Opposition on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. While this comes with its own challenges, I believe with reasoned arguments and consistent representation that you can still make a difference.

4. Do you support or oppose the Neighbourhood Plan that is the subject of a local referendum on the same day as the election ? If you support it, what are the key benefits that you see it providing to local residents ? If you oppose it, why is that ?

Yes, I support the Neighbourhood Plan.

It has been shaped by local residents and the Parish council and it gives the community more say in planning decisions.

If adopted, it will help guide development in the area and make sure it reflects local views. It also means that 25% of Community Infrastructure Levy funding will go to the Parish Council to spend locally.

5. What is your view of the draft Local Plan that WHBC has recently consulted on with residents ? Do you think its effect on the community (if implemented as currently published) would be positive or negative ?

I have serious misgivings about the draft Local Plan, especially the possible development sites affecting Welwyn East and the Welwyn area in general. The local countryside around the villages are of a better environmental quality than other potential locations in and around the borough.

6. What is your position on the housing developments along New Road and about the proposals to develop the land behind New Road ? What practical steps (if any) do you think WHBC should take to engage with residents’ wishes about this ?

I am against building on the site behind New Road and would speak up and vote against it.

Recent developments along New Road, especially flats, are already changing the character of the area. While the government’s planning rules sometimes limit what can be refused, councillors should still challenge poor proposals and push for better outcomes.

Response from Claire Hunt (Conservatives)

Having spoken to a lot of residents about this, I hear concern about possible developments on Green Belt Land. There is very real concern about the impact on both the environment, and on the quality of life for residents.

There is also worry about the impact on the safety of residents, particularly when it results in increased traffic.

New developments will inevitably alter the feel and culture of our villages, and residents want this to be taken into account. Where development must take place, the local services and facilities should adapt to the requirements of the increased number of people living there.

Quality of life is interwoven with the environment in which we live, and it’s important that residents are heard.

The state of the roads is raised by almost every resident I’ve spoken to. Potholes need to be repaired quickly and efficiently.

2. Could you let us know what your stance is on the issues you’ve highlighted in the previous question, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year ?

Our Green Belt land must be protected and I am against any development that will have a negative impact on residents.

Where there is development, planners/developers must adhere to what was agreed within a reasonable timeframe. I attended a recent Parish Council meeting where the failure of a developer to provide a zebra crossing was discussed. If elected, I would work to ensure residents get everything they are promised by developers.

Repairs must be reported and actioned. While out talking to local residents, I have been noting any concerns and escalating to the County Councillor.

Residents have been telling me about their very real worry about the speed of cars on the main roads through the villages. My stance is that speed limits protect residents. In particular, I support reducing speeds outside Sherrardswood School.

A key part of my role would be to raise concerns on behalf of residents. I will ensure the views of residents are a priority for those making decisions affecting our community.

I would work closely with the County Councillor, Tony Kingsbury, to ensure our local facilities and community assets are maintained and supported.

Actively participating in any decision making, attending meetings, contributing to the Local Plan, and ensuring I am aware of what those I represent actually want, is crucial to our community.

The community in which we live is so important to all of us, and I would be privileged to represent the community in which I live and raise my children.

Local residents and the Parish Council had a very real input into the Neighbourhood Plan. It also helps with local funding – Community Infrastructure funding will go to the Parish Council, who are well placed to allocate it locally. Therefore I do feel it will benefit residents.

I am very concerned about the proposed development sites impacting Welwyn East and Welwyn generally. The site behind New Road is especially troubling. Development throughout the area (including on Green Belt land) will place additional strain on roads and local services. It could also significantly alter the feel and culture of the area, having a serious impact upon residents who wish to continue to enjoy the benefits of living in such a beautiful area.

The housing developments along New Road have already impacted local residents and altered the character of the area. Residents have let me know their views on this. Therefore I am against any building on that site and would vote against it.

Local councillors must represent their residents, and in this case, stand up against the proposal and fight for a better outcome.

Response from George von Bülow (Labour)

The issues that come up most often in my conversations with residents in Welwyn East are road safety, fly-tipping and new housing developments.

2. Could you let us know what your stance is on the issues you’ve highlighted in the previous question, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year ?

I was pleased to see the result of the campaign backed by our Labour MP, Andrew Lewin, for the speed reduction outside Oaklands Primary School and the introduction of the 20 mph speed limit on residential roads in Oaklands and Mardley Heath. I also support the introduction of the Fly-Tipping Action Team by the Labour-led administration of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

I would continue listening to residents’ concerns and make them known in council meetings. I would also support ongoing and new initiatives for road safety (for example a 20 mph limit outside schools during drop-off and pick-up periods) and against fly-tipping.

I am pleased to see that representatives from across the Parish have come together to create a Neighbourhood Plan. I strongly support the guiding principles of preserving the character of Welwyn, but we must recognise that we need homes for families across the Parish. I think the suggestion that developments of more than 30 dwellings will “not be supported unless there are significant benefits to the local community” is unrealistic. We know some primary schools are struggling to fill their places due to a falling birth rate so we have to find the right balance.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council were right to consult on an update to their local plan, as local voices have to be heard in the process. Without a local plan in place, there will be more development across the Borough – because local authorities without local plans cannot stop speculative developers coming in. In this scenario, Welwyn East and Digswell could be very exposed. The consultation on the local plan has recently finished and I look forward to seeing the results.

These developments are included in the draft Local Plan. I believe it is right that WHBC have conducted a consultation on this and that residents’ wishes must be respected.

Response from Dave Bartlett (Liberal Democrats)

I want to see enhancement and expansion of local sport availability to meet the need of the NHS recommended 150 hours of physical activity per week. The NHS strategy ‘Harnessing the Benefits of Physical Activity’ states that all medical practitioners will be prescribing physical activity for the 98 NICE health conditions, starting in 2027. Our local ICB will be asking where we will deliver the physical activity. Currently the facilities in WE, and WGC are very limited. I also want to see enhancement of our natural resources.

I am also concerned about the dry pond on Mardley Heath.

2. Could you let us know what your stance is on the issues you’ve highlighted in the previous question, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year ?

I am passionate about maximising health opportunities for everyone both through sport and by engaging in the natural environment. Regarding the NHS strategy: I qualified as an NHS ‘Living Longer Better Champion’ 2024 and have been providing physical activities, and manning stalls at health events. I have provided input to WH Facilities planning consultation, and to the borough council’s development plans on the lack of facilities and how they might be obtained.

I would work to progress inclusiveness within sport and improve availability for all. I would work (including with the ICB) to make such facilities that we have – civic centre, schools, Elizabeth of Glamis, etc, available for leisure and the NHS prescribed physical activities starting to be prescribed in 2027. I would encourage the use of housing development section 106 and similar funds to be used for the provision of suitable facilities.

I would also aim to find out why the Mardley Heath pond has been allowed to dry up.

Overall, I support the neighbourhood plan. It provides a basis for local choices within the framework of the local plan allowing Welwyn to influence some aspects of development in the area.

However, the neighbourhood plan does not appear to recognise the need for the NHS recommended amounts of physical activity nor to enable facility provision to supply it. The elderly and infirm need indoor facilities: there is no recommendation for appropriate provision now, nor to meet need coming from the NHS strategy ‘Harnessing the Benefits of Physical Activity’. There are few facilities in the parish, and there are no facilities available weekdays in WG. So those patients strong enough would have to travel to Stevenage or Hatfield (which has 25 badminton courts), the rest will have nowhere to take their prescribed activity.

There will be those who will be able to, and have to, travel out of the area and this increase in numbers will adversely affect climate change.

However, I believe there is an under-recognition of the need for, and provision of, recommended leisure activity and particularly a lack of facilities for NHS required health-giving physical activity: it becomes urgent/essential when it starts to be prescribed in 2027. The people of the borough and parish will suffer until this is addressed. The increased travel to Hatfield or Stevenage for the current and future prescribed activity is not addressed in the section on Climate change.

I assume this refers to New Road, Digswell rather than New Road, Woolmer Green. I think the Council need to keep in contact with residents about further developments in Digswell.

The local plan site in Digswell is only allocated as a possible alternative. As stated earlier, the sites needed in the new local plan have not yet been chosen so I don’t think it is appropriate to comment at this stage.

Response from Jason Payne (Liberal Democrats)

I am concerned about preserving and improving the state of the river Mimram.

2. Could you let us know what your stance is on the issues you’ve highlighted in the previous question, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year ?

We must protect the fragile nature of our rare chalk streams for future generations and continue to improve the river quality. I have already helped with investigation of the ownership of the Black Fan settlement lagoon and am actively involved in the ongoing project to establish ownership with the aim of getting this lagoon restored. As a settling lagoon this should act to protect unwanted, dangerous pollutants escaping into the fragile environment of the river Mimram.

I will continue to support the aim of restoring the Black Fan Lagoon.

I support the neighbourhood plan and would be happy to see it adopted. It provides a basis for local choices within the framework of the local plan allowing Welwyn to influence some aspects of development in the area.

The local plan encompasses both the policies that will control and enhance how the borough develops as well as the sites that may be required to fulfil the boroughs housing and employment requirements. The former policies are a step change from the last local plan and set out a clear vision of good sustainable housing standards and healthy communities which I support. The specific sites which are chosen to make up the housing and employment sites are still being considered having just been out to consultation and no final selection has been chosen. It would therefore not be appropriate to assume any particular sites will be included in the local plan going forward.

I assume this refers to New Road, Digswell rather than New Road, Woolmer Green. I think the Council need to keep in contact with residents about further developments in Digswell.

The local plan site in Digswell is only allocated as a possible alternative. As stated earlier, the sites needed in the new local plan have not yet been chosen but I would have reservations about allocating site HEL-24.

Response from Mark Castle (Reform Party)

1. Key local issues

Residents are pretty clear about what matters to them, and that has come through strongly in conversations on the doorstep and over the last few years as a Parish Councillor.

There is continued pressure on infrastructure that already feels stretched. Roads, parking, school places, GP access and local services all come up regularly.

For Welwyn East in particular, traffic and road safety are always major concerns. Speeding in Digswell comes up time and time again with residents.

Parking is a recurring concern, particularly in Welwyn Village. I was directly involved in negotiating with the Borough Council to keep car parks free at the point of use to ensure the continued viability of Welwyn Village High Street.

New developments are another major concern, especially currently in Woolmer Green, Welwyn and Digswell. Residents are increasingly worried about the impact on the Green Belt, the cumulative effect on infrastructure, and the gradual loss of the character of the area. The Government’s introduction of the term “Grey Belt” is already having a detrimental effect, with some developers treating it as justification to build on land that should remain protected. The Borough Council should ensure that it is never treated as an open goal by developers.

The steady conversion of houses on New Road into blocks of flats has been a long-running issue. While on the Parish Council, we objected to the vast majority of these applications, yet they have rarely been refused at the Borough level.

There are also frustrations around basic maintenance. Overgrown vegetation in places like Mardley Hill and near Oaklands Shops can force pedestrians, including families, into the road. That is not acceptable and should be dealt with as routine maintenance.

Flooding in parts of Oaklands has been an ongoing issue over the years. It does seem to be improving with better maintenance, but it is still something that needs to be kept under close review.

More recently, potholes have caused too many flat tyres and damaged wheels, including in Welwyn East on Bessemer Road near Mundells. At times it has felt more like a bombed runway and posed a real danger to road users, especially those on two wheels. While this is a County Council highways responsibility, Borough Councillors should be pushing hard for action.

Digswell Playing Fields are another example where residents felt let down. The Parish Council worked with the Digswell Residents Association to build a case to take them on after a period of neglect left them almost unusable, but the Borough Council did not engage meaningfully and the proposal went nowhere.

More recently, repeated closures of Station Road have caused real disruption for residents in Digswell.

Planning enforcement is another issue. The unauthorised expansion or establishment of traveller sites has often taken far too long to address, and more broadly there is a perception that enforcement is inconsistent. The Borough Council should not be light touch where it is easy and then go into hiding when it is difficult. That is what frustrates local people.

Across all of this, there is a growing sense that decisions are made without properly listening to local people. Too often, development feels like something that is done to communities rather than shaped with them. This is only heightened by the uncertainty around future governance structures, which makes it even more important that local voices are properly heard now.

2. My stance and recent engagement

Development has to be in the right place and supported by infrastructure. If it is not, it should not go ahead.

Over the past 16 years, I have been involved in responding to almost all local consultations, from road changes and road safety through to double yellow lines and major planning matters such as the Local Plan. Sometimes we are listened to, more often we are not. As a Borough Councillor, I would work to change that.

I have been a Parish Councillor throughout that time, including serving on Planning and as Deputy Chair. I have also served as Chair of Finance, where I worked to keep council tax down while maintaining and improving local services. That is something I take seriously, making sure residents get real value for money.

I have reviewed applications, challenged proposals that do not stack up, and seen first hand how the system actually works.

You quickly learn the tactics developers use to push things through, and you also see how residents can be treated unfairly in the process. It is frustrating to see decisions affecting local people being made by people who do not live here and do not have to deal with the consequences.

A good example is the North Star in Oaklands. Many residents wanted to save it, and I helped lead that effort, including speaking against the application to turn it into a nursery and pushing to have it listed as an Asset of Community Value. In the end, only one Borough Councillor voted against the application. Several Labour councillors voted in favour, while others abstained. On an issue like that, abstaining is effectively the same as allowing it to go through, without taking responsibility for the outcome. That says a lot about how decisions get made.

Those serving on Planning Committees should have the conviction to stand up for local residents, even when that means going against officer recommendations or party pressures. Too often we have seen weak or unclear decision making from those elected to represent us.

I was also involved from the very beginning of the Neighbourhood Plan, including chairing the group that looked at whether we should even pursue one in the first place. It was not a given, and I pushed for it to move forward.

I also helped respond to the most recent Local Plan consultation, where we questioned the basis on which further development is being directed towards villages rather than being more focused on existing urban areas with greater infrastructure.

3. What I would do if elected

A borough councillor’s job is to represent residents properly and not just go along with things.

That includes not just planning, but the everyday issues residents raise, from maintenance and safety through to local services.

If elected, my job would be to make sure residents are properly represented and that what they say actually makes a difference, not just ends up recorded and ignored.

Whether or not I sit on a particular committee, I would:

make sure local concerns are clearly put forward and followed through
challenge developments that do not stack up
push for infrastructure to come first, not as an afterthought
push for funding from developments, including CIL, to be used in ways that directly benefit the local community, not lost into wider spending
push for fair and consistent planning enforcement
deal with everyday issues such as maintenance and safety
work closely with the Parish Council so things are joined up
press for decisions on roads and parking to be evidence-led

I would also seek to be involved in the relevant committees where these decisions are made.

A further factor is the likely move towards a unitary authority in the coming years. That means councillors elected now will not serve a full term, and decision making will increasingly shift into a larger, more remote structure.

As we move towards a unitary authority, it is vital that Parish and Town Councils are properly listened to, particularly on the future of local assets and services. Those conversations are not happening and that needs to change.

I will push for assets and services to stay local wherever possible. Decisions in a unitary are made across a wider area, which means assets in places like Welwyn Hatfield can be sold to deal with financial pressures elsewhere.

Residents need to be aware of that risk, and we must be vigilant to ensure local assets are protected and retained for the benefit of our community.

4. Neighbourhood Plan referendum

[WPAG Observation: Mark is unable to comment on this as he was Chair of Welwyn Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group that has submitted the Neighbourhood Plan for the referendum. Regulations on referendums mean that he cannot and should not comment on this topic.]

5. Draft Local Plan

I have serious concerns about it as it stands.

New developments are a particular concern for residents, especially in Woolmer Green, Welwyn and Digswell. As already mentioned, I was involved in responding to the most recent Local Plan consultation, where we questioned the basis on which further development is being directed towards villages rather than being more focused on existing urban areas with greater infrastructure.

A Local Plan is necessary, but it must be the right plan. In the context of wider local government reorganisation, the decisions made now will shape how our area functions under any future structure, so it is vital they are the right ones.

My concern is that too much emphasis is placed on housing numbers without fully addressing the impact on infrastructure, services, traffic and the local environment.

More importantly, I do not believe the right strategy has been selected. There appears to have been insufficient testing of alternative approaches, including the strategy that formed the basis of the previous Local Plan. That raises a real risk that the plan could be found unsound.

In its current form, I do not think it works for the community.

6. New Road developments

There is significant concern locally about development along and behind New Road, and that concern is justified.

Any development there has to:

properly address both traffic and access concerns
respect the character of the area
be supported by the infrastructure needed to sustain it

Digswell has a distinct character and, despite the conversion of many larger properties on New Road, that character should still be respected and reflected in any future development. We certainly do not need high-density schemes in Digswell that fundamentally change the nature of the area simply because of its proximity to the railway.

Too often, residents are brought in late when plans are already largely decided. That is not good enough. People should have a genuine say in what happens in their area, not just be asked for comments at the end, which too often feels like the case. For proposals with such a significant impact, there is more that authorities can and should do to properly engage with residents.

For years, Digswell has had a Character Appraisal, yet it has largely been given little weight in planning decisions. That reflects a wider pattern where local input, sometimes gathered over many years, is not properly reflected in outcomes and is often overridden.

If development were to go ahead, residents should engage early to help mitigate impacts on wildlife and the natural environment.

The outcome of the most recent consultation will be important, and residents should continue to stay engaged on this issue, as I know the Digswell Residents Association will.

Response from John Robinson (Reform Party)

From speaking to residents across Woolmer Green, Oaklands, Digswell and Welwyn, the biggest concern is still the pressure from development and whether the area can realistically cope with it.

In Woolmer Green, people feel the village is already under strain and are worried about further building adding to traffic and changing the character of the area. In Digswell, there are ongoing concerns about development along New Road and what might come next. In Oaklands, the focus is more on what’s missing, particularly the lack of local facilities for families and the loss of the pub as a community space and indeed road safety, particularly around the school and shops.

Alongside that, a lot of day-to-day issues come up regularly, things like parking, road safety, litter, and whether problems like fly-tipping or antisocial behaviour are being dealt with quickly enough. There’s a general feeling that the basics need more attention, not just bigger planning decisions.

2. Could you let us know what your stance is on the issues you’ve highlighted in the previous question, and if/how you’ve been engaging with them over the past year?

My view is that development needs to be properly balanced with what the area can support, but at the same time we shouldn’t lose sight of the everyday issues that affect people’s quality of life.

Over the past year, most of my engagement has been through speaking directly with residents while out canvassing and taking the time to understand what’s actually bothering people locally. That’s been really useful because it’s not always the headline issues, often it’s things like parking problems, local cleanliness, or feeling that no one follows things up.

I’ve also been paying closer attention to how decisions are made locally, particularly around planning and enforcement, so I can better understand where things are working and where they’re not.

I think it’s important to be realistic about the role. You can’t fix everything overnight, and some things sit with other parts of the council or at county level, but you can make sure issues don’t get ignored.

For me, it would be about being approachable and following things up properly. If residents raise concerns, whether that’s about a planning application, fly-tipping, parking, or ongoing nuisance issues, I’d make sure they’re dealt with and not just left unresolved.

On bigger issues like development, it’s about asking common-sense questions and making sure the impact on the area is properly considered. But just as importantly, it’s about getting the basics right and making sure the everyday problems people deal with are taken seriously.

4. Do you support or oppose the Neighbourhood Plan that is the subject of a local referendum on the same day as the election? If you support it, what are the key benefits that you see it providing to local residents? If you oppose it, why is that?

I support the Neighbourhood Plan.

It gives local residents more of a say in how our area develops and helps make sure that future changes reflect the character of the place people actually live in. From what I’ve seen, people want to feel that decisions aren’t just being made at a distance, but shaped by those who live here day to day.

That becomes even more important with the move towards a unitary council, where decision-making could feel further away from local communities. Having something in place that reflects local views and priorities will matter even more in that context.

It won’t solve everything, but it’s a practical way of making sure local voices carry more weight in the decisions that affect them.

5. What is your view of the draft Local Plan that WHBC has recently consulted on with residents? Do you think its effect on the community (if implemented as currently published) would be positive or negative?

I think residents are right to look at it carefully.

There is a need for housing, but from what I’ve heard locally there’s concern that development could outpace infrastructure and put more pressure on services and the character of villages. That’s where people become uneasy.

My view is that any plan needs to reflect what areas can realistically cope with, not just in terms of housing numbers, but roads, services and day-to-day living. If that balance isn’t right, it risks creating more problems than it solves.

I’m particularly concerned about the way our Green Belt is being eroded.

6. What is your position on the housing developments along New Road and about the proposals to develop the land behind New Road? What practical steps (if any) do you think WHBC should take to engage with residents’ wishes about this?

From what I’ve heard on the doorstep, there is clear concern about the overall level of development along New Road and how it is affecting the area.

There’s also a real sense of frustration that proposals for the fields behind New Road seem to keep coming back every few years. Many residents feel they’ve already made their views clear, and it creates the impression that those concerns haven’t really been listened to.

A lot of people have also spoken about how much that land means to them. It’s regularly used for walking, dog walking and includes a well-used bridleway. It’s one of those areas people value because of its openness and natural beauty, and there’s a strong feeling that once that is lost, it’s gone for good.

My view is that any further proposals need to be looked at very carefully as a whole, particularly in terms of access, traffic and the overall impact on the character of Digswell.

In terms of engagement, I think the council needs to make sure residents are properly informed early on, that their concerns are clearly understood, and that they can see how those concerns have been taken into account in any final decision.