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June 1.  2023 Town Council gives a resounding NO to the L&G 550 homes in North West Harpenden

May 30th. 2023/ Harpenden Town Council EXTRAORDINARY MEETING to review

LAND AT COOTERS END LANE AND AMBROSE LANE  PLANNING APPLICATION by Legal & General.

Within the Harpenden Neighbourhood Plan the North-West Infrastructure Zone states that significant development proposals in the North-West must:

Demonstrate how impact of new development on the A1081 and local roads will be mitigated.

Demonstrate provision for appropriate education facilities in close proximity to new development to meet the need for school places arising from the proposed development.

Demonstrate sufficient convenience shopping within a close proximity to new development.

Demonstrate sufficient open space, including recreational space in line with local community needs, within a close proximity to new development.
Having reviewed the applicant’s evidence it appears that these requirements have not been met in full.

A1081 and local roads - The development is likely to have an additional significant negative impact on the local road network. The A1081 adjacent to the development is already heavily congested and the neighbouring residential streets are tight and already subject to much ‘rat running’. The constraints in that area make it very difficult for any effective mitigating measures to be put in place therefore there is little surprise that the applicant appears to have not been able to demonstrate realistic mitigations.

Education facilities - The previous draft Local Plan required the site to provide a primary school. A primary school is no longer proposed by the applicant as the modelling suggests that it is not needed. However, having reviewed contributions to the consultation from Hertfordshire County Council it appears that they suggest that a primary school provision may still be needed.

Convenience shopping - The proposal appears to rely upon the existing parade of shops along the A1081. It is not clear if this is sufficient to support the needs of the new development.

Open Space - There is a sufficient level of recreation and open space included within the proposals. The proposals could be strengthened by replacing one of the grass sports pitches to an all-weather facility. There remains additional demand for this type of facility in the area.

Proposals Affecting the A1081, B653 and B652

The Application does set out highways improvements measures however; these are based upon the inaccuracies of the transport assessment mentioned above. Therefore, it appears that the measures will not ease traffic congestion on the A1081, nor will they minimise the disruption to traffic flow both of which are key requirements of this Policy.

Travel Plans

This focuses on the requirement for applicants to maximise the use of sustainable travel modes. The proposal sets out a number of suggestions relating to sustainable travel modes and we would make the following observations:

The proposed cycle path infrastructure measures appear entirely inappropriate and ineffective.

The on-road cycle route is unsafe and does nothing to address the most challenging aspect of the route which is when it reaches the Nickey Line bridge. The ‘quietway’ route encompasses narrow country lanes and residential streets with significant on-street parking. The applicant refers to the need for additional surveys to be undertaken and so it appears that the feasibility and deliverability of these proposals is unclear.

THE FINAL DECISION ON THIS PLANNING APPLICATION RESTS WITH ST ALBANS DISTRICT COUNCIL

April 4 2025. Government approves Luton Airport  plan to allow potential 32m passengers a year.

Transport secretary  Heidi Alexander granted the development consent order for the airport’s plans to expand its perimeter and add a new terminal, allowing a potential 32 million passengers a year.

The decision overturns the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation for refusal. Expansion will deliver huge growth benefits for Luton with thousands of good, new jobs and a cash boost for the local council which owns the airport.

Last year, 16.7 million people used the airport, the fourth largest in the London area and a base for a number of leisure airlines.

LUTON AIRPORT COMMENT

The DCO application to grow our airport has been approved

Paul Kehoe CBE, Independent Chair of Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns London Luton Airport and associated assets for community benefit, said:

“We welcome the announcement from the Secretary of State for Transport that our application for the long-term sustainable growth of our airport has been approved. Today’s decision enables us to continue detailed planning for the next chapter in the success story of London Luton Airport.

“The benefits are clear. At a new capacity of 32 million passengers per year, our scheme will deliver up to 11,000 new jobs, additional annual economic activity of up to £1.5bn, and up to an additional £13m every year for communities and good causes.

“By introducing maximum limits for the airport’s noise, operational greenhouse gas emissions, air quality and surface access impacts, we also believe that our Green Controlled Growth framework represents the most far-reaching commitment to the sustainable operation of an airport ever put forward in the UK. 

“We would like to thank the many thousands in the local and business communities who have supported us in successfully making the case for growth. From polling that we commissioned last year, we also know that more than five times as many people support London Luton Airport’s expansion plans than oppose them

“We will review the details of the Order and look forward to working with our partners to realise the significant economic, employment and social benefits for our town, the region and across the UK, as we contribute towards the Government’s vision for national growth.”

50 Harpenden businesses signed an open letter to SADC ( directly addressed to Cllr Paul De Kort, leader of SADC, and Amanda Foley, chief exec) against the High Street parking charges.

Organised by  campaigner Elaine Bradford, a former high street shop owner and now a hypnotherapist with a practice on the High St.

She engaged with the businesses below. Two conditions have been requested in the letter:

Immediate suspension of the Harpenden parking charges - pending a thorough consultation with all stakeholders.

Introduction of a more balanced and fair traffic management and parking policy.

Alex Cowland, director, Alex Barbers

Abdul Hye, managing director, Bangkok Lounge

Nick & Julie Pike, owners, Bar Azita

Karen Blair, owner, Blush Beauty

Claire McKenna, osteopath/director, Body Mechanix

Alan Bramwell, practice owner, Bramwell Dental Practice

Patricia Adam, owner, Cache

Katarzyna Albinska, shop manager, Cancer Research UK Harpenden

Mark Wilson, director, Charles Wilson Engineers Ltd

Maxine Ryan, landlady, Cross Keys Public House

Troy Kiff, manager, District Modern Stores

Liam Lawless & Alicja Szypryt, studio owners, fit20 Harpenden

Daoud Hawa, store manager, Fonehouse Harpenden

Erdogan Dari, owner, Golden Scissors Barbers

Yusuf Dari, owner, Golden Touch Barbers

Jack, general manager, Harpenden Arms

Philip Egan, proprietor, Harpenden Eye Centre

Mary McGovern, practice manager, Harpenden Orthodontics

Hemant Vakharia, owner, Healthy and Wise

Robert Beiny, managing director, Hearing Healthcare Practice

Ken Edwards, managing director, Hertfordshire Air Conditioning

Jonas Hurst, director, Hurst Childrens’ Theatre Group

Beth Russell, branch manager, Johnson's Cleaners Harpenden

Alexis Weatherley, owner, Jolie Nail & Beauty

Andrei Lussmann, managing director, Lussmanns

Tom Zadok, assistant manager, Majestic Wine

Craig Main & Alexander Andrews, director, Main Hair Gallery

Dr L Mileham, owner, Milehams Car Parts Ltd

Barrie Woolston, director, Molasses House

Hasan Aslan, owner, Okka Restaurant

Fiona Grant, owner, Oui Harpenden Ltd

Olga Sipcenoka, managing director, Portofino Harpenden Ltd

Martin Williams & Robert Belcher, co-owners, R&M Butchers

Sharon Cousins, director, Rebecca Jane Health & Beauty Ltd

Mary Durkin, owner, Serena Hart

Donna Browne, manager, Silver Palate

Penny Swanne, managing director, Swanne Boutique Ltd

Luke Gumley, general manager, The George of Harpenden

Jack Rugman general manager, The Harpenden Arms

Niki Hackett, landlady, The Oddfellows Public House

Johnny Shepherd, founder, The Pudding Stop

Lee Hughes, director, The Shaken Cow

Olivia Reeder, manager, The Silver Cup

Baris Dari, owner, The Turkish Barber

Mark Watson, director, The Waffle House Harpenden

Damien Tidd, owner, Thompsons Close Café

Lara Wares, director, Threads of Harpenden Ltd

Bharat Shah, pharmacist and owner, Tompkins Pharmacy

Sean Fletcher, director, Travel Four Seasons (Harpenden) Ltd

Suzanne Shipton, director, Tuckfield & Co Estates

Elaine  said: "Over the weeks this is now not only about local businesses but also includes, residents, visitors, employees of businesses in the town and particularly the elderly and most vulnerable who are struggling with the complexity of the new parking arrangements. AND

"I have been in Harpenden for the best part of 25 years and I don’t want to see the high street decimated."

Suggestions for a more equal initiative include "one to two hours of free parking to encourage footfall", "more flexible permits for shoppers, workers, and elderly residents who do not qualify for a Blue Badge", and "the inclusion of cash payment options to ensure accessibility for all."

Other concerns include elderly residents feeling "excluded" by the new system and the "decline in footfall" which was labelled "immediate and severe".

Craig Main and Alexander Andrews, directors of Main Hair Gallery said: "The introduction of high street parking charges has led to a noticeable drop in footfall, reducing our sales compared to the previous year and recent months.

"Customers are deterred by the added cost and inconvenience, affecting not just our salon but the wider high street. Combined with rising business rates, these challenges are making it increasingly difficult for local businesses to remain competitive and sustainable."

Meanwhile, Niki Hackett of The Oddfellows Arms pub added: "My lunchtime trade is down by at least 60 per cent, a lot of my customers are elderly and do not have smart phones and are scared to use the machines".

Government backs airport expansion at any price

The proposal for further massive expansion of Luton Airport was thoroughly examined by a team of professional planning inspectors, who recommended that the plan should not go ahead because of its noise and environmental impacts.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, has overruled this advice and granted permission for a further 13 million passengers and over 170,000 flights a year – with 70% more of them at night – at Luton Airport.

With Britain facing significant economic challenges, this decision makes no sense because the costs of airport expansion far outweigh any benefits.

In 2019, when aviation was at its busiest, there was a £30bn balance of trade deficit in tourism due to more people spending money overseas than bringing it in, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The increasing costs of damage caused by climate change will rub out any benefits from the government’s Green Power Plan in 5 years according to the New Economics Foundation.

Being awoken at night by aircraft noise increases the chance of stroke or heart disease according to the World Health Organisation. Increased health harms add to the costs on the NHS.

And the local transport infrastructure is insufficient to cope with the additional passenger load at Luton according to the planning inspectors who examined the application. Increased gridlock penalises other local businesses.

The inspectors strongly recommended against the expansion due to harm arising from noise and vibration effects. Noise blight caused by Luton Airport expansion is likely to negatively affect economic prosperity in the area.

Setting all of this in context: is the government’s approach genuinely sustainable? Will airport expansion and increased emissions from cheap flights leave the world in a better state for future generations? We think not – and having fed the documents into ChatGPT it agrees. Here’s its verdict:

“Whether the mitigation measures proposed for the London Luton Airport Expansion are truly sustainable depends on how “sustainability” is defined and weighed across environmental, economic, and social factors. Here’s an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed sustainability measures:

1. Environmental Sustainability: Mixed Results

Pros:

The plan includes carbon offsetting, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, and renewable energy use in airport operations.

Commitments to biodiversity protection and noise insulation help reduce local environmental harm.

Cons:

Carbon offsetting is often criticized as a short-term fix rather than a real reduction in emissions.

SAF is still in early adoption stages, with limited availability and high costs.

Increased air traffic will inevitably raise overall emissions, conflicting with UK climate goals.

Verdict: While the measures help, they do not fully neutralize the environmental impact, especially concerning long-term aviation emissions.

2. Economic Sustainability: Likely Strong

Pros:

The expansion promises job creation, regional economic growth, and improved business opportunities.

Improved transport infrastructure benefits both airport users and local commuters.

Cons:

Future aviation demand is uncertain, especially with post-pandemic travel shifts and remote work trends.

There is a risk of overestimating economic benefits while underestimating environmental costs.

Verdict: Strong in the short-to-medium term, but long-term viability depends on future aviation demand and government regulations.

3. Social Sustainability: Divided

Pros:

Noise insulation programs and flight path optimizations aim to reduce disruptions for local communities.

Expansion could improve international connectivity, benefiting passengers and businesses.

Cons:

Increased noise pollution and air quality issues could still negatively impact residents’ health and well-being.

Local opposition suggests concerns about the quality of life deterioration.

Verdict: Some improvements are planned, but local communities may still bear significant burdens from increased airport activity.

Final Assessment: Is It Truly Sustainable?

No, not entirely. While the expansion includes some sustainability efforts, it does not fully offset its environmental impact or prevent potential long-term challenges such as increased emissions and noise pollution. Economic benefits are strong, but the environmental trade-offs remain significant.”

Credit: ChatGPT, OpenAI, 4 April 2025

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SUNDAY JANUARY 18TH HERTS FA WOMEN'S SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER -FINAL.

COLNEY HEATH LADIES      0       HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN        6          HT 0-4.

  The local El Clasico took place on Sunday between Colney Heath Ladies and Harpenden Town Women in the quarter final of the Herts FA Women's Challenge Cup but the match was marred early on when two players from the Harpenden side collided and after around 15 minutes plus after they had received treatment saw them take no further part in the game and so both Becca Dowdall and Chloe Dinsey left the field with the latter on a stretcher. Ella Mercer and Neave Wilson replaced them.

Harpenden had to reorganise as these were both main players for the team but the subs settled in well and so the Harps quickly went on the attack with Sophia Amanor having at least three shots on goal which saw Katie Poolman pull off a couple of good saves whilst a third was deflected for a corner kick which Becca McShane took and her effort curled in struck the foot of the near post and rebounded out. Finally the Harps took the lead when Becca McShane played the ball to SOPHIA AMANOR who raced clear into the box from the left and promptly drilled a low shot through the legs of Katie Poolman to make it 1-0. It soon became 2-0 when in their next attack saw Ella Mercer tripped in the box for the match referee to award a penalty kick. BELLE SHANNON stepped up to take the resulting spot kick and struck it like a rocket into the top corner with Poolman rooted to her line as the ball flew past her and into the roof of the net.

    For Colney Heath saw Cally Salter cut in from the right and her looping landed on top the net whilst her sister Ellen Salter was making good runs forward but then there was another delay in play as Katie Poolman took a knock when she collided with Sophia Amanor, after treatment she left the pitch and Lacey Kavanagh-Blake took over between the sticks. The first thing Lacey Kavanagh-Blake had to do was pick the ball out of the back of the net when a free kick by Ella Mercer fell to SOPHIA AMANOR on the edge of the box whereupon she drilled a low strike towards goal and with everyone(including me) thought it was going wide it somehow crept just inside the near upright to make it 3-0. Following a Becca McShane corner kick saw Belle Shannon denied a goal when her header was blocked on the line at the far post by a good stop from Anna Simou and this was followed by a good run down the right by Amana Oguntuga who set up Amanor but her shot flew just wide of the far upright. Next Amana Oguntuga made a dazzling run again down the right whereupon this time she shot herself but Lacey Kavanagh-Blake the Magpies keeper just managed to get her fingertips to the ball and tip it onto the crossbar and away.

Right on the stroke of half time the Harps made it 4-0 when Nancy Tucker fed the ball through for SOPHIA AMANOR to race clear after going around Kavanagh-Blake she calmly tucked the ball away to complete a first half hat-trick. Early into the second period it nearly became five nil when Oguntuga and Amanor combined to set up McShane but alas her effort flew over the bar. On 58 minutes it did become 5-0 when Kacee Warren slipped the ball through for SOPHIA AMANOR to glide pass the advancing

Kavanagh-Blake and hit the ball home for her fourth goal of the match.

  Becca McShane had a good strike blocked by Sheree Oliver following a good run by Oliva Henry whilst for the hosts saw Cally Salter have a shot go just wide and then another effort pushed around the far post by Daisy Strouts whilst Mia Jimenez had a curling cross-cum-shot go just wide of the far post. Young Ellie Deville who had just come on for the Harps then had a shot saved by Kavanagh-Blake. Anna Gifford for the Magpies then had a shot pushed away by Strouts and another go just wide as the hosts kept pressing looking for a consolation goal but on 84 minutes it became 6-0 when ELLIE DEVILLE who chases every ball and not gives up got her reward when she won the ball and after going around Lacey Kavanagh-Blake who had no cover saw Deville calmly side foot the ball home.

The Lady Magpies did not give up and they nearly pulled one back when Sheree Oliver saw her goalbound shot kicked off the line by Daisy Strouts at the last moment whilst Anna Gifford also went close with her effort going just wide of the near post. This win now sees the Harpenden Town Women move into the semi-finals which sees them playing Stevenage Women Development at home on the 22nd February. Steveanage Dev had beaten Hertford Town Women in their quarter-final 2-1 on penalties after the match had finished at 3-3. Well done to both teams for playing an entertaining match. Having fine games for the Harps were Kacee Warren, Erin Shacklock and Belle Shannon whilst for the Magpies were Cally Salter, Anna Gifford and Lacey Kavanagh-Blake.

Harpenden Squad: Strouts, Warren, Shacklock, Dowdall, Dinsey, Shannon, McShane, Amanor,Curtain, Oguntuga, Tucker, Henry, Edma, Wilson, Deville, Mercer(allplayed).

Colney Heath Squad: Poolman, Simou, Williams, Joseph, Lerwell, Oliver, Kavanagh-Blake, E. Salter, C. Salter, Pinkham, Simmonds, Phillips, Jimenez, Gifford, Ray-Smith(all played).

Also playing in a Women's Herts County Cup match were the Harpenden Town Women Colts and they were at home to Royston Town Women Development in the quarter-final of the Herts FA Women's Trophy and they won 5-1 with two goals from CHLOE WAXHAM plus one apiece from JESSICA CURTIS, ELLA CLEMENT and SASHA CHESTER. The player of the match went to Edith Perryer who alongside Demi Mills controlled the midfield with some lovely football whilst Anna Easby and Georgie Power also both had excellent games as well..

The Harps next play Berkhamsted FC Ladies away in the semi-final on Sunday 22nd February.

Squad: Alderman, Tallantire, Smylie, Lessig, Dante, Curtis, Mills, Perryer, Waxham, Ward, Clement, Chester, Large, Curnow, Power, Easby(all played).

Terry Edwards.  FOOTBALL AS IT'S MEANT TO BE.

JAN 20.TOWN COUNCIL INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

ON ACCESSING TOWN CENTRE NOW PUBLISHED

The Town Council recently commissioned independent research to gather the opinions of residents and town centre businesses on accessing and visiting Harpenden’s town centre. THEY have now received the findings from the research. You can read the Independent findings report here.

The Town Council will be considering its view on this report at the end of this month and a further update will be published then.

THEY are awaiting the final costs of the research, however they expect the total cost to be c£30k. The business element of the research will be £10k and the residents research is c£20k, however the final figure depends on the number of hard copy surveys requested.

WHY  WAS THE RESEARCH COMMISSIONED?

The Town Council has commissioned independent research that seeks to gather the opinions of residents and town centre businesses on accessing and visiting Harpenden’s town centre. The surveys  included questions regarding changes to the limited waiting parking bays which were introduced in February.

The residents’ survey will be posted to every household in Harpenden so that views are gathered from as many local people as possible. All members of each household aged 16 or over will be invited to take part in an online questionnaire (or they can request a printed copy) using a unique identifier code to ensure reliable results.

Businesses located in Harpenden Town Centre will be also asked to take part in a telephone or face to face interview.

The Town Council aims to gather information to help understand changes within the local area and any resulting impact on the town centre.

The survey was carried out by an independent research company, Public Perspectives, on behalf of Harpenden Town Council. Research and took place in November and December 2025.

Contact:

Questions from residents and businesses who require assistance in taking part in the survey should be directed to Public Perspectives by email: surveys@publicperspectives.co.uk or FREEPHONE 0800 865 4898. Residents, should quote pass number which is printed on their letter.

Further information:

Independence and confidentiality

The survey was  carried out by an independent research company, Public Perspectives, on behalf of Harpenden Town Council. Responses are confidential and anonymous. This means that answers and opinions expressed in the research will not be published alongside personal details, and all information will be stored securely in line with data protection legislation.

Harpenden Society Public Meeting Jan 22. 2026

Are you confused by the complicated official procedures our Local Plan undergoes to meet the Planning Inspectors approval before it can be implemented?

Well, don’t be!

SADC leader Paul de Kort will be on hand to explain the situation.

Are you concerned that the required infrastructure investment needed to support The Local Plan

is not being adequately planned? Or even enforced when included in the Plan?

Well now you can seek answers!

Herts County Council’s Cabinet ~Member for Environment, Transport and Growth. Paul Zukowskyj will be on hand to answer your concerns.

This first Public Meeting of 2026 by the Harpenden Society will feature the Local Plan update and the implications of further government planning legislation. Two key Local Council politicians have agreed to speak at the event and bring clarity to the situation.Making this an important start to 2026 for Harpenden residents.

A new town centre venue has been booked-The High Street Methodist Church, which offers a recently established high tech audio and video facility.

Demand for seats will be high so bookings need to be made quickly via the Harpenden Society web site:  www.harpendensociety.org

Harpenden to welcome one of UK’s greenest care homes.

Due to open in March.

Harpenden will be home to one of the greenest care homes in the UK with the opening of a new eco property designed to achieve net zero status.

Harpenden Springs on Grove Road will be powered entirely by renewable electricity and won’t use gas at all.  It features 125 solar panels on purpose-designed slanted roofs to generate the power required by the 75-bedroomed home, plus air source heat pumps to provide warmth to the under-floor heating system.

Its car park will feature 12 EV charging points, and its outside space will have a purpose-built wildlife garden for residents to enjoy that will support biodiversity.  Harpenden Springs aims to independently generate all the power it needs and will only draw additional electricity from ‘green’ providers.  The home is the greenest commitment to care so far by operator, Oakland Care, which is the UK’s first carbon neutral care home group.  

“Oakland Care has led the sector with its commitment to sustainability for several years now.  With a growing number of homes in our portfolio to meet the increasing need for care, we have a responsibility to local communities and to the environment as a whole,” said Oakland’s CEO, Joanne Balmer.

“We had the chance to fully shape the design of Harpenden Springs from the very beginning, and we wanted to push the boundaries for what is possible for care homes when it comes to sustainable development.”

Harpenden Springs, which has opened its marketing suite, is on course to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’.  BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings and organisations and assesses the home on 51 different criteria including its construction methods and materials, energy use, recycling and how well the building supports the health and wellbeing of its residents.

Oakland Care currently operate 10 luxury care homes across the south of England, with Harpenden Springs being the 11th in their portfolio.   They are the first care home group in Britain to be certified as a carbon neutral business by Carbon Neutral Britain and are also a Green Mark Level 3 accredited business.

Timber used within Harpenden Springs is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and utility monitoring software will track energy use to show where efficiencies can be made.  It will have recycling stations and will be a paper-free environment for team members.  The home is built on the site of Pan Auto Services, before it moved premises to Coldharbour Lane, repurposing what was derelict land following the garage’s demolition. 

General Manager, Luciana Dobos, said as well as being environmentally responsible for the future, the home will be an exceptional place for people to live.

“First and foremost, we are creating a beautiful home for our residents, with all the amenities our homes offer such as a bistro, a hair salon, an activity room, quiet lounges, landscaped gardens and a library.  Harpenden Springs will have a dedicated physiotherapy suite that will be available for the community to use too.

“We will offer residential, nursing, memory and respite care in a setting that’s responsible to the environment.  This carries right through to the activities we will offer to residents, and training our staff in sustainability and involving them in local sustainability projects”

For more details visit https://oaklandcare.com/our-care-homes/harpenden-springs-harpenden/

Swordsmen of the Silver Screen with Sword-master Andy Wilkinson.

Date: Saturday 14 March      Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Location: Harpenden Library.Ticket price: £7.70

Join sword-master Andy Wilkinson as he demonstrates Olympic fencing and theatrical sword-craft and gives his popular talk ‘Swordsmen of the Silver Screen’ - packed full of film clips and insights into the actors and fighting experts who created dazzling action scenes in the halcyon days of the Hollywood swashbucklers.

A true Renaissance man, Andy has been a director, actor, stuntman, screen-writer, producer, fight-choreographer, stage combat instructor, author, and award-winning fencer. A Library Centenary event.

https://herts.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/EVSESENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=14948426

Harpenden History Society has issued its programme of exhibitions in the museum and monthly talks for 2026. 

The ‘Redbourn  Residents Group’ OPPOSES THE LAWES TRUST PLANS FOR 1,000 NEW HOMES.

Plans for more than 1,000 new homes on Green Belt land to the north of the village  have been proposed by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT) – a charitable trust which owns the estates at Rothamsted in Harpenden

It would also include a new two-form entry primary school, a potential new care home, around 23 football pitches’ worth of open space, play areas and other enhancements around the River Ver chalk farm, and up to 50 per cent affordable housing.

The 104-acre open arable site is situated on the northeast edge of the village of Redbourn, between Dunstable Road, Harpenden Lane and the Redbourn bypass.

The development will see 42 hectares of Green Belt land reclassified as grey belt – which means it does not strongly contribute to the main purposes of the Green Belt – and would see the size of the village population increase from 2,200 to 3,200 houses.

A consultation event by Lands Improvement Holding was held at the Redbourn Village Hall in late November where display panels showing all aspects of the proposal where on display with a number of experts on hand to answer questions. A consultation form was provided for visitors to complete on site or on line.

OPPOSITION GROUP FORMED

Following this meeting local residents and businesses formed an opposition group on WhatsApp  ‘Redbourn  Residents Group’. Organised by Pauline Willis,  Deana Barge and  Nick Johnson. They have reviewed the proposals and have raised a series of objections as seen in the documents here to spread the word across the whole of Redbourn.

Petitions are in evidence across the High St gathering support.  SEE example here.

They have been communicating with other groups in the country, who are experiencing the same type of proposals of developers using “green belt” to grey for building houses.

Pauline has also received a very positive response from CPRE regarding the ongoing and future campaigns and maybe resulting in a national campaign.   So all  groups may have to pull together!

ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING

In the immediate future they are

urging all local residents/business

owners to attend a follow up

consultation meeting in the

Village Hall on Jan 26 at 6.00pm

to show the solidarity against

the proposals to the Lawes

Agricultural Trust who are 

working with leading strategic

land development company

Lands Improvement Holdings,

the organisers of this meeting.

More to come after Jan 26.