RESIDENTS are being urged to air their views on far-reaching plans to build hundreds of homes to the north of Bishop's Stortford, before it is too late.

More than 3,000 homes are being proposed by East Herts District Council in its District Local Plan to accommodate airport-related homes and projected population rises up until the year 2011.

The plans, which will alter the face of Bishop's Stortford for ever, have been earmarked on areas of special restraint just inside the A120 bypass.

A draft version has now been produced and Bishop's Stortford councillors are now urging people to inspect it so have their say before a final plan is produced.

Battling against the proposals is Cllr Bernard Engel, who said: "My message to the people of Bishop's Stortford is object, object, object, while you still have time.

"Once the proposal goes into the district plan we may be able to alter it a little bit, but then it becomes set in stone and it is too late. I want this taken out before it goes out to public consultation."

Cllr Engel descibed the means of access for the development as ridiculous. Officers propose downgrading the A120 bypass to a distributor road by introducing a sequence of mini-roundabouts.

He said: "Roundabouts would slow down the traffic along the bypass so heavy goods vehicles would not use it. The A120 would no longer be a bypass but a distributor road.

"These vehicles will travel through the centre of town to save time and cause traffic gridlock in the town centre. It would be a disaster."

Cllr Engel also said he objected to the number of houses earmarked for the area as he felt they will ruin the town's rural heritage.

The planning brief raises several areas for discussion, including the best location for a school, the size of individual developments, and the need for other services.

To help residents make comments, councillors have identified 12 issues to help guide the finished document.

These include provision for playing fields, whether vehicular access to the A120 is necessary, and whether there should be a specific area set aside for businesses.

An East Herts District Council spokeswoman said: "The council now welcomes informal comments from the public at this stage, although the formal consultation process will take place in March and April 1999, as part of the district-wide plan review."

Copies of the consultants' brief for Bishop's Stortford North are now available for inspection at Bishop's Stortford Town Council, in Windhill and at the district council offices, in The Causeway, during normal office hours.

For more details, contact the local plans section at East Herts District Council on 655261, ext 448.

Let the Citizen know what you think about the plans. Write to us at 8 Simon Campion Court, High Street, Epping. CM16 4AU, ring us on 01992 572285 or email us.

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