RESIDENTS of Flora Grove have bitterly criticised St Albans District Council and labelled it "undemocratic" following a planning dispute.

The row stems from a proposed development of a two-storey side extension on the corner of Flora Grove and Breakspear Avenue which local residents object to on the grounds of inadequate parking provision and overdevelopment.

The application was deferred at the beginning of October so the planning committee could consider a Highways Partnership report but the developer submitted his application directly to the Secretary of State for Environment as no decision had been reached within the required six weeks.

In such instances the planning committee is obliged to indicate what its decision would have been and after discussions at a meeting on Monday night councillors decided to approve it.

But local residents have attacked the process, claiming they have been unable to access revised details of the proposed parking layout of the development and did not receive the Highways Partnership report until Monday morning.

Flora Grove resident David Burridge complained this left no opportunity to consult with the local community or prepare for the evening's debate.

He said: "This is not the way an informed open process should be conducted.

"I have not been able to access plans of the revised parking layout incorporating a seventh car space despite being told that it was submitted directly after the last meeting. Our democratic rights are being infringed."

Mr Burridge's wife Margaret is also critical of the planning committee. She said: "There were numerous concerns voiced by councillors at the initial meeting on October 1 and they all spoke against it but this week they all voted for it.

"The whole thing is a farce. They are worried about incurring costs but they should have the integrity to make a stand against developments they oppose."

Mr Burridge was also critical of the Highways Report itself, labelling it subjective and not representative of the levels of congestion experienced at the site.

He said: "We do not know two of the occasions that the area highway manager visited the site but one was 9.30 am during the half-term holiday which is hardly representative."

Mr Burridge's comments were backed up by Councillor Geoff Harrison, who described the Highways Partnership as a "shower of incompetents."

One Flora Grove resident who did not wish to be named attacked the approval of the application on environmental grounds. He said: "This decision contravenes the 1997/98 Local Strategy for cycling which states it aims to introduce car-free residential developments. This site adjoins a cycle route proposed under the Pedalling for Change document.

"These concerns supposedly being implemented by the council are just being ridden roughshod over."

November 2, 2001 17:00

Aaron Bateman