A campaign group trying to protect a village from major development nearby feels “under attack” as residents’ are not listened to by the consultation process of the council’s local plan.

St Albans City and District Council’s strategic local plan identifies land for housing and other building developments from 2020 to 2036. – which could include building more than 900 new homes each year.

So far more than 1,000 people have given their views on the proposals for 5,000 homes to be built on land within the city and other existing settlements.

However, members of Campaign For Colney, believe the consultation process does not “act on residents’ behalf”.

Brett Ellis has been campaigning against plans for a garden village of 4,000 to 8,000 homes in Hertsmere, as he says it will infringe on neighbouring London Colney, which is in St Albans district. a village where the boundary between Hertsmere Borough Council and St Albans City and District Council runs through it.

The group have been particularly concerned with Hertsmere’s lack of consultation with people who live in London Colney about the exact size and scope of the proposal, as well as issues surrounding infrastructure, the green belt and traffic.

Now he has taken aim at St Albans’ consultation process by deeming it a questionnaire that is “not fit for purpose”.

Mr Ellis said: “We feel as if we are under attack, residents are not being listened to, and we are being made a dumping ground.

“Both councils must work together, be bound by their neighbourliness, and ensure the voice of local people is heard on both sides.”

St Albans MP Anne Main said: “I strongly believe that it’s not reasonable or fair that local authorities would not work together in a spirit of co-operation.”

“Indeed, duty to cooperate is a requirement which must be met in order for a local plan to be deemed sound by a planning inspector.”

Tracy Harvey, head of planning for St Albans City and District Council, said:The Local Plan consultation is going well and engagement with the public has been more successful than ever before. Within the first two weeks 1,335 people have responded, far more than in the past. “We have to gather feedback and present it in a certain way, which is why we are using this particular software.

“We have made a few changes as a result of feedback to improve its function, but it’s not as easy to use as we would wish. That is why we decided to send a paper copy to every home too. We welcome responses in either format.”

“We are also pleased to see over 1,300 people have watched our local plan video on Youtube so far, and more on Facebook.”

Other options in St Albans’ local plan include expanding existing settlements into green belt, building on other large sites that contribute least to green belt objectives or creating new garden villages.

The consultation runs until February 21. After it is finished, all views will be taken into account while a draft of the new Local Plan is completed.

If all goes to schedule, it will be considered by full council in the summer, consulted on again in the autumn, and submitted to the Government in March 2019.

Visit www.stalbans.gov.uk/localplan2018 to access the local plan questionnaire as well as other significant documents and details of future exhibitions.

London Colney Parish Council is planning a drive protest at the Bell roundabout in St Albans during rush hour on the week commencing of February 12.

To find out more about Campaign for Colney, visit: www.campaignforcolney.com