OPPONENTS of the 600-space park and ride scheme in Stephenson Way, Bushey, took their fight to Watford Council on Tuesday, claiming the plan would harm the environment.

After a boisterous debate punctuated by shouts from the public gallery decrying council leader Vince Muspratt the Labour-run council squeezed through a motion which means the protest will effectively be ignored.

The decision to take "no action" was passed by just one vote, with Labour councillors toeing the party line.

The Green Party's Mr Steve Rackett said he was happy the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives fought the council's plans.

Liberal group leader Iain Sharpe said the scheme would "impact massively on the Green Belt, causing considerable destruction to the environment".

He said: "It is not actually going to reduce traffic or pollution in the town centre. It is simply creating a giant over-spill car park for The Harlequin shopping centre.

"That isn't going to do any good for traffic congestion and will, in fact, make it worse"

Councillor Muspratt defended park and ride. He said the economic success and employment prospects in town depended on a vibrant and accessible centre. Park and ride is seen as a vital part of this.

He said the scheme would cut pollution and congestion in the town, and derided as "hogwash" claims the Green Belt field would be destroyed.

He said: "The site isn't fully taken up by park and ride. The rest of the site will be there for free land, and people will be able to use it."

His efforts were not appreciated by those in the audience. One accused him of "being in bed with big business" a reference to the council's close work with Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) who run The Harlequin, in pushing the scheme.

Another said his speech was "nothing but hot air, fluff and methane gas".

Mr George Cook, of North Bushey Community Group, criticised the Labour group for wanting to build on Bushey fields while opposing plans to put more homes in Watford on school playing fields, allotments and other open spaces.

He said: "They will build on our areas, but don't want it to happen to them. The word for that is hypocrisy."

Conservative group leader Tim Williams said more questions needed to be answered before the park and ride scheme went ahead.

He said it was uncertain traffic congestion would be cut.

Labour councillor Geoff O'Connell said the scheme had been subverted by party politics since the Tories took control of Hertfordshire County Council and Hertsmere Borough Council.

Conservative-run Hertsmere Council, which is opposed to the principle of park and ride on the Green Belt site, must consider the planning applications already submitted by CSC.

The best hope opponents have to block the scheme is for a Government planning inspector to recommend it should not go ahead the inspector is currently considering the matter, after a public inquiry was held in September.

October 19, 2001 16:24

Jo Stephenson