Objections to called-in plans for a polo facility near Welwyn Garden City have now topped more than 250, as residents fight against the proposal.

The application to turn Cromer Hyde Farm in Marford Road, Lemsford, into a facility with three pitches, a viewing mound and parking for visitors and horse boxes was submitted last November by Nick Sherriff.

But, in late December, the application was called in by James Broach, Labour councillor for Hatfield Villages, citing concerns from residents about the plans.

Since then, objections to the polo facility have continued to flood in and now top more than 250, with Historic England, Hertfordshire County Council Highways, Hatfield Town Council and St Albans City and District Council among them.

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As part of the plans, around 945,000 cubic tonnes of soil will be moved to the site over a five-year period to assist in reprofiling the site.

One resident, who lives in Marford Road, raised concerns about heavy vehicles using nearby roads that are already "dangerous".

"I live on Marford Road and frequently drive past the turning for Cromer Hyde," they wrote. 

"The road is already very busy and the turning very dangerous. I am concerned about adding heavy vehicles before the site becomes a polo ground, as the road would become even more dangerous,both at the site of the turning, but also as it comes into Wheathampstead."

Another said: "The surrounding road network will not be able to sustain the proposal for 200 return HGV lorry trips a day, five-and-a-half days a week.

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"The weight of that increase in HGV traffic will have a huge and dangerous impact on the surrounding villages and local residents.

"It is a main road out of Wheathampstead that is often as a standstill from sheer weight of traffic on the mornings anyway, and the addition of the proposed HGVs will have too big a negative impact on the area."

Others have raised concerns about the site being built on Green Belt land, and the lack of a need for polo facilities.

To read the application in full, visit planning.welhat.gov.uk/Planning/Display/6/2022/2662/MAJ.