A campaigner fighting a garden village which could bring thousands of new homes has questioned a decision by his parish council to clash their meeting with a nearby exhibition.

London Colney Parish Council has invited neighbours to a meeting in the village today to discuss what Cllr Malcolm Macmillan is describing as the “biggest crisis” for the village.

As part of Hertsmere Borough Council’s local plan, a site near the M25 and Tyttenhanger has been put forward by the landowner for a new garden village which could see more than 4,000 homes, a primary school, and other amenities built.

As part of the borough council’s local plan consultation, an exhibition is being held in Shenley today. No exhibition is taking place in London Colney, as it falls within St Albans district, but Shenley is the closest opportunity to find out more about the plans.

Campaigner Brett Ellis says he believes his parish council has “deliberately tried to scupper” a silent protest he was planning to hold in Shenley tonight, which has since been cancelled.

Watford Observer:

Brett Ellis

Mr Ellis, who lives in London Colney, said: “The parish council saw the protest and they didn’t like it. So they hurriedly put some flyers together to deliberately scupper the protest. I set up Campaign for Colney because the parish council weren’t doing anything to oppose Hertsmere.

“Something like this has happened before last November. The parish council should stop playing party politics and put residents first because it is important we challenge planners face to face. But the parish council is taking away this opportunity as an act of self-harm on the village they purport to represent.”

Watford Observer:

The site which has been put forward for a garden village near the M25.

Chairman of London Colney Parish Council, Mr MacMillan has hit back and says Stand up for Colney is now in “full swing”.

He said: “We decided to have this meeting a week before the Colney Heath public meeting. We didn’t want to bring people out over two chilly nights so they can choose whether they want to come to us or go to Shenley. We will ensure all information at Shenley can be provided in London Colney.

“I was also told the protest had been cancelled due to lack of interest.

“We are facing the biggest planning crisis in the history of London Colney, alongside proposed developments such as the rail freight or garden village site in Park Street, as well as at Harperbury, Shenley Lane, and now Redwell.”

The parish council leaflets were distributed to all homes in London Colney, according to Cllr Macmillan.

The exhibition in Shenley will take place at Shenley Primary School between 4pm and 8pm today.

The meeting in London Colney will take place at 6.30pm at the community centre in Caledon Road.