Our new Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden was unable to attend a packed annual meeting of the Elstree & Borehamwood Green Belt Society on May 12 to hear presentations from Steve Pickering, of Liberty Aldenham, and Robert Marsden, of Aldenham Renaissance, on the future of Aldenham Reservoir.
Liberty Aldenham proposes building 150 houses on green belt land south of Watford Road below the Fisheries Inn. In exchange for planning permission, it will fund the repair or replacement of the dam and hand the reservoir to a public trust with endowment. Robert Marsden, lessee of Aldenham Coutry Park and Farm, would manage the reservoir for the public but could not be responsible for the dam expenses.
Lively debate followed with searching questions on the security of the Liberty deal and the traffic consequences and the possible cost of the dam in future.
The green belt stance is that preservation of the reservoir is a ‘very special circumstance’ that would justify sacrifice of green belt because of the importance of the reservoir to all of us for recreation, exercise and historic associations — and because it is beautiful. This depends on completely safe and binding legal agreements on the finances.
Members expressed strong opposition to the Legal and General plan to build a sports centre in Rowley Lane on the grounds of traffic congestion and pollution and loss of green belt land.
Please do join our local green belt society and add your voice to decisions vitally important to our neighbourhood.
Pat Strack & Ann Goddard
Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society
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