| Residents Vow To Protect Village |
 A group of Abbots Langley residents are fighting a proposed development in the village which would see one property knocked down and an orchard built on.Residents have held a number of meetings to discuss the best way to prevent Thorne Barton Estates, based in Hemel Hempstead, going through with their plans to build nine houses behind 18 Gallows Hill Lane.
The development will not only see the nine new dwellings, but also an access road and garages, which the residents opposing the plan believe is not in keeping with the area’s surroundings.
There is also a concern that a number of trees, in particular an old Oak tree, have Tree Preservation Orders, which would mean they cannot be knocked down if they are in a healthy state.
Residents in Gallows Hill Lane, Gallows Hill and Hazelbury Lane have got together in an attempt to fend of the proposal, with the help of MP Claire Ward, and handing round a petition which has seen over 200 residents sign.
An initial meeting at the Unicorn Pub, Gallows Hill, saw a number of residents attend and offer their time and help to try and prevent the development from getting the green light.
The meeting was organised by Hazelbury Avenue resident, Sue Osler, whose house backs onto the proposed site.
All those who attended the meeting agreed that it was an unwelcome application that would add to “the fact that Abbots Langley is losing its identity”.
A follow up meeting was held at the Abbots Langley Scout hut on Upper Highway, which was attended by Claire Ward and local councillors.
The meeting, which saw over 50 people attend, evaluated the progress the group has made since the first meeting at The Unicorn, and to hear the concerns of those in the assembled crowd.
Invasion of privacy, loss of trees and wildlife, security and traffic were just some of the issues raised by those in attendance, with many more concerned that Abbots is now becoming a building ground.
residents’ concerns,” encouraged those in attendance to feed their views to the Government, who have a consultation going on currently concerning backland development.Claire Ward, who stated she “understood
“She said: The Government is asking for views on backland developments following the Planning Act introduced last year.
“We agreed to have a consultation as there are no statistics on how big the problem is.”
Parish Councillor Owen Roe, who was also present at the meeting, said: “Of the 4,000 homes needing to bee built in Three Rivers, 52% of them are proposed for Abbots Langley.
“These nine houses were not on the list of sites, and we have objected to them.”
My Abbots News spoke to Sue Osler, who is heading the campaign against the development, shortly after the meeting, and she believes the group has a good chance of preventing the houses being built.
She said: “I’m passionate about this proposal because Abbots Langley is losing its identity.
“Everyone feels the same as I do and we are very confident of winning this battle, otherwise we would not be doing it.”
Dipak Lalsodagar, who lives adjacent to 18 Gallows Hill Lane having moved to the village in 2004, was elected as spokesperson for the group at the meeting, and he believes that the development is a real worry.
He told My Abbots News: “I believe we have a real battle on our hands.
“I may not have lived here for as long as some others, but I have lived here long enough to appreciate Abbots for what it is.”
My Abbots News contacted developers Thorne Barton Estates for a comment on the development, but at the time of going to press, both directors were unavailable for comment.
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