THE FIGHT IS ON - WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP IT GOING

256 homes are proposed on protected Green Belt east of Oxhey Lane, in Three Rivers, Hertfordshire. The Secretary of State has called the application in. A full public inquiry STARTS on 1 July.

We are not preparing to fight. We are already fighting. Our barrister is instructed and briefed. Two expert witnesses are on board. Our Statement of Case has been submitted. The Case Management Conference is on 18 May. Proofs of Evidence are due by 2 June.

Every step costs money. Every additional expert we can fund strengthens the case. And we need the funds in place NOW - not by inquiry day - to keep this work moving.

THE TIMELINE

14 May - Statement of Case submitted ✅

18 May - Case Management Conference ✅

2 June - Proofs of Evidence due

1 July - Public inquiry begins

Through July - Hearings, cross-examination, closing submissions

Later - Inspector's recommendation, Secretary of State's decision

WHY THIS LAND MATTERS

The Oxhey Lane fields are Green Belt that has been protected for generations. They're a popular area for ramblers, dog walkers, and nature watchers - a vital green corridor used by thousands of residents across South West Hertfordshire and the wider area.

The Three Rivers Stage 2 and draft Stage 4 Green Belt Reviews assess this parcel as performing strongly against the five purposes of Green Belt set out in national planning policy.

If 256 homes are approved here, the precedent will reach far beyond Oxhey Lane. Green Belt across Hertfordshire - and across the country - will be weakened.

WHERE WE ARE

Three Rivers District Council refused the application on the grounds that it is inappropriate development on Green Belt land. The developer is challenging that refusal, arguing the land should be classified as "Grey Belt."

The Secretary of State has now called the application in for a full public inquiry. The decision will be made nationally - not locally.

We've been granted Rule 6 status under the planning regulations, which gives us formal standing at the inquiry. This means we can cross-examine the developer's case, call our own expert witnesses, and put residents' evidence on the record.

Three Rivers District Council will defend their refusal - but we cannot rely on that alone.

Residents' voices must be heard.

Our counsel is barrister Peter Cruickshank of Six Pump Court. We currently have two independent expert witnesses on board.

THE REAL COST OF THIS FIGHT

The developer will arrive at the inquiry with a full team - barristers, planning consultants, ecologists, highways and flood specialists, landscape experts. Every one of their witnesses will give evidence under cross-examination. To stand a chance, we have to match them.

Here's the honest picture:

‍⚖️ An expert witness, from initial briefing through to giving evidence at the inquiry, costs approximately £30,000.

⚖️ For every expert we bring on, our barrister's associated fees -preparing their evidence, conferences, cross-examination - also run to around £30,000.

So each additional expert is an extra cost but significant in strengthening our case.

We currently have our barrister and two experts on board. That commitment is already made. Every pound you give helps us pay for the work already underway and, beyond that, lets us add further experts to strengthen the case before the inquiry begins.

The developer has unlimited resources. The community's contribution is our edge.

WHY WE NEED THE MONEY NOW

This is not a race to a single deadline. It's a sustained fundraising effort to keep the fight resourced through every phase:

• NOW - paying for the work already done and currently underway

• Before 2 June — funding the preparation of Proofs of Evidence

• Before 1 July - funding any additional experts we can bring on

• During July - paying for hearing days, cross-examination, closing arguments

• After - covering the final tail of costs

Money raised today goes directly into the work happening this week. Money raised next week funds next week's work.

There is no point where funding becomes "too late", but there is a point where if the money isn't there, the work stops.

WHO WE ARE

Save Our Green Belt is the public campaign name of the SW Herts Coalition, bringing together:

Can't Replace Green Space (CRGS) - a 1,000+ member community campaign founded in Carpenders Park to protect local Green Belt land, in 2021.

Carpenders Park Residents' Association (CPRA) - the long-established voice of residents in the ward

For the purposes of the Rule 6 party application at the inquiry, our group is formally called "Residents Protecting Oxhey Lane Fields."

HOW YOU CAN HELP TODAY

Donate - every pound funds work happening this week

Share this page - to your Facebook, WhatsApp groups, neighbours

✍️ Write to the Planning Inspectorate - template via our Linktree

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Once our green space is lost, it can never be replaced. Some things are worth fighting for and this is one of them.

Thank you.

#SaveOurGreenBelt #HandsOffOurGreenBelt #CantReplaceGreenSpace #OxheyLane #ThreeRivers #CarpendersPark #GreenBelt #PublicInquiry