Croxley Green Residents' Association report 1,361 objections to Three Rivers District Council over Killingdown Farm development (From Watford Observer)

Croxley Green Residents' Association report 1,361 objections to Three Rivers District Council over Killingdown Farm development

2:11pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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An acrimonious development plan in Croxley Green attracted more than 1,300 objections during a local consultation.

The Watford Observer reported last October how up to 160 new homes could be squeezed into a green field site on Killingdown Farm, as part of a wider scheme to introduce new homes in the area to meet government targets.

Three Rivers District Council opened a public consultation on the development, earmarked for the farm site in Little Green Lane, and five others in the area.

Between November and January, the Killingdown Farm development clocked up 1,361 objections, and 136 votes in favour.

At a Croxley Green Residents' Association meeting on Monday, Steve Farrell, senior planning and conservation officer for Three Rivers District Council, claimed the development would have “an adverse effect on the views out in a conservation area".

He said: “The bigger issue is the infringement on the green belt but we have to find 2,000 homes somewhere. The huge outcry over the development has been noted.”

The residents' association criticised the “inadequate” consultation, and that people were unlikely to find the questionnaire, which was included inside the Three Rivers Times - a council sponsored publication.

Barry Grant, chairman of the association, said that the number of objections was partially down to his group's vociferous publication of the consultation and knocking on people's doors.

“There has been an incredible response,” he added “especially when you compare it to the response from the rest of the district.”

Five other proposed housing sites were included in the consultation, Leavesden Aerodrome, South Oxhey town centre, Langleybury School, Delta Gain, in Carpenders Park, and Rickmansworth Police/Fire stations, but none received the numbers of objections that Killingdown Farm did.

Councillor Martin Trevett, executive member for the environment, said: "We've had a record number of responses to the consultation.

“We would like to thank all the residents' associations in Three Rivers for their active support in making sure that people's voices are heard.”

Brian White, Liberal Democrat district councillor for Croxley South, added: “As well as there being a large number of reasons against it, there are also very strong reasons against it. So well done, the district council position is definitely against.”