The Lib Dems have (again) delayed the release of a ratified Local Plan for St Albans. Until we have this, our precious green belt remains at risk of major developments.

St Albans Conservatives remain committed to protecting the green belt and we are doing all we can to stand up for residents against a Lib Dem dominated council.

The fact of the matter is that St Albans' Lib Dem council has failed to ratify a local planning policy (Local Plan). With no Local Plan, developments such as CALA homes, are more likely to be appealed to the National Inspector, and with the National Inspector having no local framework to base their decision on, these appeals are often won on technicalities relating to national planning policy.

Case in point, the national government has named and shamed SADC as one of the worst councils in the country for

planning, and to add further insult to injury, has put the council into 'special measures' because of its unacceptably slow processes.

The Conservative Government has made great strides in protecting the green belt and has given councils more powers to protect it. However, we have a Lib Dem administration which seems either unwilling or incapable of implementing these new protections.

The current state of affairs absolutely does not have to be this way. The Lib Dems have 48/ 56 councillors on SADC - there is nothing stopping them from ratifying a Local Plan. The real question is why are they refusing to act?