Protest grows over Tin Town plan

REDEVELOPING 60 prefab bungalows would place unnecessary burdens on the local community, it has been claimed.

Last week The Comet reported how North Hertfordshire Homes (NHH) wanted to build new houses on Campfield Way and Highover Road in Letchworth GC, an area known locally as Tin Town.

The proposals were met with outrage by residents who said NHH were interfering with their lives.

This week local councillor Gary Grindal joined in the debate when he warned about the serious repercussions the development would have for the area.

He said: "I have two concerns. The first is that the land is in a conservation area and the second is the impact on local amenities such as health care of which we are currently in short supply.

"There could potentially be a large number of people moving into the new homes and this would also impact on school places. There are only two secondary schools in Letchworth."

Although NHH chief executive Kevin Thompson said they would try to make the redevelopment as smooth as possible, he could not disclose how many new homes will be built.

He said: "We're keen to stress it will be an excellent development in a green and pleasant environment.

"The housing on the site will be determined by planning law and there will be more buildings than there currently are, but I don't know how many for certain yet."

Mr Thompson said he could not guarantee that when the residents move back into their new homes after the building work is completed, the new houses will have the same number of rooms as the prefab bungalows.

Mr Thompson said: "It depends on the individual cases."

Jean Fish, of the local residents' association, is angry that people may be forced to move into smaller houses.

She said: "North Herts Homes are supposed to look after residents, it's ridiculous.