Since I was first elected in 2015, I have made protecting our local countryside one of my major priorities. One of the great pleasures of living in our part of Hertfordshire is the countryside we have on our doorstep. I grew up enjoying the green spaces in our area and love the space and freedom it provides. We, of course, need more homes for our children and grandchildren, but this must not be at the expense of what makes our area special.
Nationally, I have championed the maintenance of our green open spaces. The government have reversed reforms that I lobbied so hard for previously, particularly by reinstating top-down housing targets and redesignating large chunks of Green Belt land as ‘grey belt’, removing vital and necessary protections. Locally, I have joined campaigns against inappropriate, unsustainable developments and will continue to oppose any changes which do not protect the Green Belt.
One such campaign is the proposed development on the land south of Shenley Hill, Radlett. Developers, Fairfax Acquisitions Ltd, resubmitted a planning application to erect 195 houses on Green Belt land. The same developers previously had a similar application rejected by Hertsmere Borough Council, the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court. This was a decision I welcomed.
When the most recent application was submitted to the Council, I wrote to residents who may be impacted, encouraging them to submit their views.
The application was recommended for approval by council officers despite more than 2,400 resident objections.
I was therefore glad that councillors voted to reject the application at the Planning Committee meeting on 26 June. I wrote to them ahead of the meeting expressing my concerns.
I have been and will continue to work with your local Conservative councillors, including the community advocate at the meeting, Aldenham East Councillor Lucy Selby, to ensure that our Green Belt land is protected.
Finally, I have grave concerns about deeming previously protected Green Belt land as ‘grey belt’, as it was in this application. I will be raising the matter in Parliament.
