Joy for Hertfordshire countryside campaign (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Joy for Hertfordshire countryside campaign

9:39am Tuesday 23rd March 2010 in

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COUNTRYSIDE campaigners fighting the threat of major development on rural Green Belt land north of Harpenden have almost won a complete victory.

They have been told by regional planning officers that the threatened land between Luton and Hitchin will not be included in the East of England Regional Plan.

Kevin FitzGerald, director of CPRE Hertfordshire, said: "The Keep East of Luton Green group has fought a resolute, professional and responsible campaign to persuade the joint Luton Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils not to include development of this beautiful stretch of countryside in the core strategy of their local plan.

"The evidence against it is overwhelming, as is local opposition from residents of both Hertfordshire and Luton.

“It may be a bit premature to pop the champagne corks, but I think we can put the bottles on ice.

"Although a decision not to include this in the plan has yet to be confirmed by the joint councils, we have seen the withdrawal of support for this by Luton Borough Council, strong opposition from North Hertfordshire District and Hertfordshire County councils, and now the decision not to include it in the regional plan.

"It would be a bizarre decision to go ahead in the face of all this.

"It would not conform to the regional plan, which would mean it would almost certainly be thrown out by a planning inspector. This is some of the best news we have heard in years for the future of our lovely countryside.”