Campaigners will be marching on Baldock at the end of the month to protest against a housing blueprint they feel will swamp the town.
Save Rural Baldock has organised the march for Saturday, January 31, as the deadline ticks down on the chance for local people to have their say on North Herts District Council’s preferred option sites for future development.
Nine sites making up 3,414 houses have been allocated to be built in and around Baldock, including one of 2,800 homes at the Blackhorse Farm site to the north of the town.
The number earmarked for the market town is part of the council’s draft Local Plan, which sets out plans to build 14,000 homes across the district by 2031.
Marchers are asked to gather at Baldock Community Centre in Simpson Drive at about 11.30am, ahead of the midday start which will take in the High Street, Pinnocks Lane, Clothall Road and Whitehorse Street.
Stephen Proops of Save Rural Baldock said: “Please bring all you friends and family along to the march armed with placards and posters.
“We are expecting to have a lot of people there on the day.
“We are well known for being opposed to the overdevelopment of Baldock and we are encouraging each and every one of you to complete your consultation forms and return them to the council.
“It is vital that everyone who has objections to the plan keeps up the pressure on councillors.”
Before to the march there will be a public meeting called by Baldock councillors at 10am in the community centre to discuss the Preferred Options Plan, the consultation process and any concerns that attendees may have.
Earlier this month Save Rural Baldock campaigners took part in a march through neighbouring Letchworth, which saw hundreds take to the streets to protest against plans to build 1,000 homes north of the Grange estate.
The results of the consultation period – which runs until Friday, February 6 – will be fed into the next version of the Local Plan.
For more details on the march and a guide to taking part in the consultation visit www.saveruralbaldock.co.uk.
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