More than 50 local residents turned out to hear the outline planning application for the green belt site at Harts Farm refused by the Hertsmere planning committee.

Although a refusal was expected - and the officer recommendations published last week offered reasons for refusal, Little Bushey Community regarded them as weak and potentially useless at the up and coming planning appeal.

Calling for the committee for refuse the application on robust grounds, the reasons for refusal finally brought to the committee will put the Hertsmere and Little Bushey Community on a stronger footing at the planning appeal lodged by Redrow developers.

• Inappropriate development in the green belt
• Harm to the character and appearance of the landscape
• Failure to demonstrate that it would not result in increased flood risk to the surrounding areas

In presenting Little Bushey Community's case, Chair, Daren Nathan said: "We love our community and we are asking you for strong and robust reasons to refuse this application - to protect the green belt, to protect the character and appearance of this part of Little Bushey Lane and to protect the wildlife which the green belt on Little Bushey Lane gives a natural home."

Continued Daren: "The applicant uses spurious examples as to why it says its application represents such very special circumstances, but there is nothing very special about them whatsoever."

Hertsmere Conservatives will have faced the loss of seats in the forthcoming elections had they approved the application and refusing it on weak grounds would have meant that the Planning Inspectorate could have easily upheld Redrow's planning appeal.

After the meeting, Little Bushey Community's spokesperson, Nik Oakley, said: "We were pleased that more robust reasons for refusal were brought to committee and that there was unanimous agreement that the application was completely unsuitable for Harts Farm."