As we share the survey findings and our campaign progresses, we'll keep you updated
The campaign calls on Urban & Civic, North Herts Council, and Hertfordshire County Council to recognise Baldock’s relationship with nearby villages, to fully involve and assess the impact on Baldock’s businesses, and to be transparent about what the road changes really mean for residents and villagers.
Since we started this campaign, Urban & Civic have acknowledged they need to do more and have confirmed that they are now "writing to all businesses with next steps and ongoing engagement. We’ll also be in the area in the coming weeks and will use the time to speak to as many businesses as possible". We hope to know more soon.
SURVEY
The rapid survey, conducted between July 18 and August 11, 2025, reveals that 88.5% of respondents travel to Baldock by car, with 85.5% rating access via North Road/A507 as "critical" or "very important." A staggering 73.9% said they are "extremely" or "very likely" to reduce visits if it becomes harder to access Baldock by car, while 67.2% see no viable alternatives like improved public transport or parking to mitigate this. Respondents visit Baldock frequently for shopping (94%), dining and drinking (71.1%), services such as hairdressers (53.5%), socializing (46.8%), and community activities (44.3%).
Businesses echoed these concerns, with 88.9% stating car access is critical or very important to their operations. Three in four businesses expressed extreme or very high concern about the impact, estimating that 50% or more of their customers come from outside Baldock. Open responses warn of risks to beloved independents like Chapmans butchers and Days Bakery, with one resident noting: "No cars means no people. Why don't councils realise this? It is, after all, a market town where people have stopped for centuries." Business owners said they were “astounded Baldock businesses weren’t involved in the first place” and that it was “very poor judgement”, and that they would “just like the council to listen to us for a change”.
Vulnerable groups feel particularly overlooked. Elderly, disabled, and families with young children emphasized their reliance on cars, dismissing cycling or walking as "impractical" or "ridiculous" for daily errands in bad weather. A Bygrave visitor shared: "I have young children - it is not feasible for me to use public transport or cycling... We consider [Baldock] ‘our’ town and feel as if we’re being penalised." Village residents from Ashwell, Bygrave, Radwell, and Newnham highlighted isolation, predicting diversions to the dangerous A505 road, increased pollution, and shifts to towns like Letchworth, Hitchin, or Royston.
FEEDBACK
Nikki da Costa, who led the work, said: "Baldock's businesses are the heart of our community, yet Urban & Civic and North Herts Council have not adequately assessed their dependence on car-reliant customers from villages, or the importance of the villages to Baldock’s economy and community. With the planning application due to be submitted mid-September, we urge immediate door-to-door engagement with businesses, and much more transparency on traffic modelling.”
Councillor Michael Muir: "If Baldock is to thrive, we must commit to reducing through-traffic without harming the local economy. Urban & Civic need to spell out what the impacts will be and what it means in real terms when they say they want to create ‘friction’ and make it hard to travel through the town. Alternatives such as HGV weight limits and a package of support for local businesses is vital.”
Local business owner James Lunnon said: “As a business owner in Baldock, vehicle access is essential to my daily work. I hold many meetings in local cafes, relying on easy parking and convenient travel for myself and my clients. The proposed road restrictions would make it difficult for people to reach the town, risking a major drop in footfall and harming the cafés and shops we depend on. Most of my business contacts and customers drive in from nearby villages—reducing car access threatens our relationships, community connections, and the future of Baldock as a hub for local trade and collaboration.”
Having been briefed on the findings by Nikki da Costa, Chris Hinchliff MP said: “It’s vital that we strike the right balance between encouraging sustainable travel and supporting the vibrancy of our local economy. These findings highlight the need for transparent decision-making and meaningful engagement with residents and businesses. I will continue to press for a planning process that listens to local voices and ensures Baldock remains a thriving and accessible town.”
Councillor Ralph Muncer, who leads North Herts Council Conservative group, said: “Baldock is a historic market town and the ‘Growing Baldock Masterplan’ represents a new chapter in the Town’s history, but it’s crucial we don’t lose sight of what is, and will continue to be at its heart - a High Street packed with independent local businesses. That’s why I’m working with Nikki da Costa who’s spearheading this campaign to ensure NHDC understands the importance of keeping Baldock open for business.”
The parish councils of two of the villages closest to Baldock said:
Cllr Julie Colegrave, on behalf of Bygrave Parish Council, said “The proposed traffic plan would significantly increase the volume of traffic through Bygrave and increase the journey time from Bygrave to Baldock. A lose-lose for Bygrave villagers. There are no facilities in Bygrave – no shops, no pub, no post office, no hairdressers, no schools. We rely on Baldock to provide these. And we need to drive to access them – it's too far and too dangerous to walk and cycling isn't an option for many people. It seems that no consideration has been given to the impact of the traffic plans on the people of Bygrave.”
Ashwell Parish Council said: “Ashwell Parish Council support the findings of the research carried out by Nikki Da Costa and North Herts Councillor Muir into the impact of the traffic management changes being proposed by Urban & Civic. We would also like to draw NHC’s attention to the proposed North Road traffic management plans. The proposed pedestrianisation / vehicle closure of the Bygrave Road / Ashwell Road is likely to have a significant additional impact on Ashwell and Bygrave’s resident access to Baldock facilities including access to Baldock Station. There is also the risk of adding more demand for Ashwell Station access & parking, especially during the several years of the construction phase of the Baldock expansion. Further research by Urban & Civic or NHC is required to scientifically assess these potential impacts on community access to Baldock and the risk of negative impact on the Baldock facilities and Ashwell village.”
Cllr Alistair Willoughby, County Councillor for Baldock & Letchworth East and District Councillor, Chair of the Baldock & Villages Community Forum, said: “As Baldock grows, we must ensure that local people can continue to access the town centre, surrounding villages, and essential services easily and safely. That includes supporting those who need to drive, whether for work or day-to-day errands. It also means improving infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transport, and backing the businesses that rely on steady access. We must also tackle the through traffic from vehicles using Baldock as a shortcut, which adds congestion and undermines safety.
Our villages are a vital part of our community, not separate from Baldock. They must remain fully connected to the town in every sense: physically, socially, and economically. Everyone in Baldock, in the villages, and in the new neighbourhoods to come deserves a transport system that strengthens those connections rather than weakening them. That system must be shaped around local knowledge and lived experience. With open engagement and practical solutions, we can support sustainable growth while keeping our community accessible, resilient, and genuinely joined up."