Hertsmere Borough Council's Labour/Lib Dem coalition have released their draft Local Plan, with consultation now open. Have your say here.
As a Conservative Group, we are greatly concerned about many aspects of the Plan.
• They promised a ‘resident-led’ Local Plan but so far no residents or councillors have been consulted on the proposals
• They promised to protect 99% of Hertsmere’s green belt but this Local Plan includes at least 5% of the green belt being built on
• They promised ‘infrastructure first’ but this plan barely mentions it
• All major housing sites around the planning portfolio holder Nik Oakley’s home in Bushey have mysteriously disappeared off the Plan but Elstree has had housing numbers increased
We heard residents loud and clear at the previous draft Local Plan and propose an innovative community-led way for residents to devise their own Local Plan – this Labour and Liberal Democrat plan is top-down and completely lacking transparency.
We are deeply concerned that the Labour/Lib Dem Coalition have missed this opportunity to make Hertsmere a better place for the future, and have included no details of any infrastructure and no logical reasons for any of the proposed site locations – they have all been chosen in a piecemeal manner.
This is no way to plan for the future of our towns and communities – more green belt development and no assurances of additional GP surgeries, schools and roads needed to make any new development work.
We urge residents to get involved in the consultation process. Meanwhile your Conservative councillors will continue to speak up for residents and against green belt development.