Politicians back green belt campaign

Local politicians have given their support to the campaign to protect more than 60 acres of North Mymms green belt land from the developers after being contacted by the North Mymms District Green Belt Society (NMDGBS).

Labour MP Melanie Johnson has given her backing to those aiming to protect the green belt and has written to Welwyn Hatfield District Council and the developers, the Marshmoor Consortium.

The NMDGBS says the Conservative parliamentary spokesperson for the area, Grant Shapps has also given his support to the campaign after being contacted by the society.

More than 180 local residents turned up for a meeting on Monday night, 19 May, to voice their concerns about proposals to extend development in the area.

According to the NMDGBS, the consultants, employed by the 'Marshmoor Consortium', suggest that Marshmoor could be used for more than 500 dwellings, a primary school, a pub, a doctor's surgery, woodland and an open space.

The other two sites could be used to build 160 dwellings and 35 dwellings respectively, at an average of 16 dwellings per acre.

The society is concerned that, if the planning rules are relaxed in the Welwyn Hatfield District plan, it could lead to up to 700 homes being built locally.

A meeting on Monday night, organised by the NMDGBS, heard that such a move could lead to local villages merging and the character of the area changing forever. The meeting agreed to lodge objection regarding three sites.

A public inquiry is taking place from May to July, at Campus West, Welwyn Garden City. The NMDGBS says it will attend parts of that inquiry.

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22 May 2003

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Green belt proposal opposed - 20 May 2003

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