More than 1,000 sign petition to shut Croxley Green road

Campaigners want a section of unpaved Little Green Lane in Croxley Green to be shut to help combat fly-tipping and "protect the rural nature" of the road.

The petition was started by the Croxley Green Liberal Democrats.

The petition states: "Over the past 12 months, since the start of Covid-19 restrictions, there has been a marked increase in the number of people taking their daily exercise in the countryside, woodlands and open spaces around Croxley Green, resulting in greater usage of the local network of footpaths, minor roads and other rights of way, including Little Green Lane.

"Traffic levels have also increased in Little Green Lane, with a greater number of vehicles using (or attempting to use) the narrow unpaved section between Little Green and the junction with Lincoln Drive, to the detriment of local residents walking, running or riding along the lane."

The petition calls for sections of Little Green Lane between Sarratt Road and Little Green, and also further up towards Lincoln Drive.

Little Green Lane

The Lib Dems say they want the road to be shut in the same way nearby Rousebarn Lane was closed in the 1990s.

The petition says there would be exceptions such as for farm traffic and emergency vehicles.

Croxley councillor Dominic Sokalski said: "Now the petition has surpassed a thousand signatures it will have to be considered by Hertfordshire County Council at its next meeting on October 19th and we hope the county council will agree our request."

Marked in red lines is stretches of Little Green which the petition calls for to be closed to motorised traffic. Credit: Google Maps

Cllr Sokalski says the closure he and his colleagues are seeking would not directly affect the access point to any potential development at Killingdown Farm in Little Green Lane.

Plans for 160 homes have been appealed after Three Rivers District Council rejected a proposal in the summer.

Cllr Sokalski said: "Our desire to protect the neighbouring fields are a key motivator for our campaign; however even without the planning proposals, the fly-tipping is a serious problem that we have been trying to solve. It has got much worse since lockdown."

Cllr Sokalski's colleague Margaret Hofman added: "We would like to a say a big thank you to all the residents who signed our petition to get us well over the needed thousand signatures to secure debate at County Hall.

"The reaction on the doorstep was very positive. Almost everyone we asked, without exception, could see closing the unpaved part of the road to traffic would enhance and protect our environment and green space."

The petition can be found at www.SignMe.org.uk/1826