Site debate

3:34pm Tuesday 19th June 2001

The Hertsmere planning sub-committee debated the application for the Pylon Site in Barnet Road, Potters Bar, for a full 50 minutes on June 11.

There was unanimity on the needs for travellers to settle and their children's steady education. But when it came to the vote on a motion allowing the application, with safeguards limiting it to the present families with no business use and maintenance of trees and hedges, the meeting split along party lines: Labour and Lib Dems for the motion, Conservatives against.

To be consistent the Conservatives should delete Hertsemere's motto, 'Do Good and Fear Not', because that was the crunch, compassion versus the fear of breaking the letter of Green Belt policy.

Alan Doel

Billy Lows Lane, Potters Bar