Dame Theresa Villiers, former MP for Chipping Barnet, has thrown her weight behind a campaign by Arkley residents to save green belt land from development.
A planning application has been submitted to turn the site next to Rowley Lane into a residential caravan park.
During her years as a local representative, Theresa successfully campaigned to protect the green belt.
Speaking after submitting her formal objection to Barnet Council, she said, "This site performs a vital green belt function as part of an area of woodland and fields which prevents urban sprawl into neighbouring Hertfordshire. Allowing the application would therefore contravene planning policies."
"This is an illustration of the damage done by Labour's introduction of the concept of "grey belt" into the planning system. That is the biggest threat to the green belt in its decades long history and encourages developers to trash their land and degrade habitats and biodiversity in the hope that this might make it more likely that their land will be classed as green belt."
Dame Theresa took to social media to urge residents to tell Barnet Council they don't want this development to go ahead.
Please send in an objection to Barnet Council. You can do that by emailing [email protected]. You need to include the planning reference number in your email: 26/3182/FUL. The deadline is Thursday 29th October.
You can find suggestions on what to put in your objection email on the Barnet Society's website here, or in the objection statement Theresa sent to the council:
26/3182/FUL: Change of use to Residential Caravan Site comprising 6 Gypsy/Traveller pitches accommodating a total of 12 caravans, including no more than 6 static caravans/mobile homes, together with the laying of hardstanding. Land West Of Rowley Lane And North Of Windmill Lane, Arkley, Barnet
As an Arkley resident, I write to express my strong opposition to the planning application for a change of use to allow a caravan site to be built on land to the west of Rowley Lane in Arkley.
Allowing the application would violate national and Barnet planning policies. It is contrary to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) policies S5 (development outside settlements), GB6 (development in the Green Belt), & HO7 (need for homes).
This is green belt land and has been protected from development for many years because of this status. The site performs a vital green belt function as part of an area of woodland and fields preventing urban sprawl into neighbouring Hertfordshire.
Granting the application would reward the illegal felling of trees. Clearance work on the land earlier this year included cutting down mature oak trees in a protected area without permission.
The land strongly contributes to green belt purposes in NPPF policy GB2:
(a) Holding back unrestricted sprawl of large built‑up areas;
(b) Preventing neighbouring towns from merging;
(d) Preserving the setting and special character of historic towns.
The Design & Access Statement’s assertion that the site should be classified as grey belt is wholly unjustified. It is part of Rowley Lodge Field, 4.4 hectares of trees and meadow, a Grade II Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation and a Tree Preservation Zone. Its unlawful clearance in February is a shocking case of degrading land before an application claiming grey belt status. Such cynical practice is unacceptable as a route to planning approval.
The proposal is fundamentally unsustainable. I have seen wildlife around the site including wildflowers, badgers, foxes, and deer. This biodiversity would be damaged and disrupted by the proposed caravan park.
No environmental improvements are proposed. Vehicle and pedestrian access is hazardous. Site utilities are non-existent. There are no schools, shops or medical services in walking distance. Public transport connections are poor. Unavoidable vehicle usage would exacerbate existing congestion on local roads. The application lacks the detail essential for such a sensitive location.
Proposals for other housing developments on neighbouring plots include 300 new homes on Arkley Manor Farm. Further erosion of the Green Belt is unacceptable and should be refused.
Yours sincerely
Theresa Villiers
The image comes from the Barnet Society website.
