A STRATEGY for new housing set out in the East of England Plan has raised concerns for Abbots Langley parish councillors.

Hertfordshire falls under the East of England Regional Assembly's strategy for planning and development until 2021.

Under the distribution of dwelling provision, the plan suggests 79,600 new houses should be built in Hertfordshire by 2021.

Three Rivers would take 3,600 of these at a rate of 180 per annum.

These figures have alarmed Abbots Langley Parish Councillors who are concerned the majority of this allocation might have to be built in the Abbots Langley area due to the large amount of green belt land and areas of outstanding natural beauty in other parts of the district.

Councillor Keith Williams said: "Councillors have raised concerns because Hertfordshire is already the most congested county in England and this plan seems to be environmentally unsustainable.

"Abbots Langley lacks the local infrastructure such as doctors and school places and has inadequate rail and bus services and roads to take the additional traffic generated by such a large house building program.

"Councillors are worried the plan does not provide for sufficient funding to remedy these problems."

The plan was discussed at the last Abbots Langley Parish Council meeting.

Other concerns raised were that so many new houses could create an urban housing sprawl, reducing the character of the semi-rural area and breaking down community identity.

Councillors also said they would prefer any new housing in the area to be affordable family homes, rather than flats or expensive executive dwellings.

All the parish council's objections will be sent to the East of England Regional Assembly.

The plan is currently open to public consultation until March 16.

Anyone who would like to view or comment on the plan can visit www.eera.gov.uk