Graveley villagers start protest group against 8,000 homes plan

VILLAGERS have come together to form an action group against plans to build more than 8,000 homes in North Herts by 2021. GASP - Graveley Against SNAP (Stevenage and North Herts Area Plan) has been formed to fight against the prospect of the village being

VILLAGERS have come together to form an action group against plans to build more than 8,000 homes in North Herts by 2021.

GASP - Graveley Against SNAP (Stevenage and North Herts Area Plan) has been formed to fight against the prospect of the village being engulfed by new housing north of Stevenage.

Cllr Sal Jarvis, a member of North Herts District Council and also GASP, has seen the latest plans for the area. They include building 1,500 houses between Graveley and Stevenage, and 5,500 houses to the north and east of Great Ashby.

A link road from junction 8 of the A1(M), between Graveley and Stevenage, to the north of Great Ashby, is also proposed, as well as a 23-pitch permanent travellers' site at Junction 8 of the A1(M), opposite Cygnet Hospital.

Cllr Jarvis said it is unlikely the plans will be made formally available to the public before May or June this year.

She added: "It's extremely unlikely in my opinion that the councils will throw them out. Stevenage is in favour, and North Herts is opposed to building on the Green Belt but knows it has to find somewhere to build the houses."

A spokesman for the group said: "Graveley as a village needs to be ready to fight these proposals.

"Unless we as a village are resolute and well organised, we are likely to find ourselves becoming just another part of the sprawling mass that is Stevenage."

GASP will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, April 14, at 8pm at Graveley Village Hall to discuss the SNAP proposals. All are welcome.