A community action group fighting against a proposed development of Green Belt land is stepping up its campaign with a public protest this week.
Members of the West Hemel Action Group – opposed to the proposals for 900 homes on the LA3 site between Pouchen End Lane and Chaulden – will demonstrate outside the Civic Centre ahead of a full Dacorum Borough Council meeting this evening from 6.45pm.
The move was discussed at the group’s latest meeting held in Chaulden Infants’ School on Sunday, at which councillors Terry Douris, Maureen Flint, John Whitman and Graeme Elliot expressed support for the anti-LA3 campaign.
The action group has so far collect almost 1,800 signatures and raised £2,500 in donations towards legal aid for their fight.
Members have already formally engaged a St Albans-based planning solicitor.
MP for Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning and the town’s branch of UKIP have also pledged support.
Group chairman Lee Royal said: “We’ve been delighted by the large numbers of local people who have signed our petition.
“It shows there’s a real groundswell of support from the Hemel population against LA3.
“We’d now like to encourage as many people as possible to show Dacorum Borough Council the strength of our opposition by joining a demonstration against LA3 outside the council offices and attending the meeting.”
Dacorum borough councillors will vote on the adoption of the town’s new Core Strategy – which includes the LA3 proposals – at the public meeting, which starts at 7.30pm.
Visit whag.webeden.co.uk for more information about this evening’s demonstration or email whag1000@gmail.com to get in touch with the group.