Campaigners were not deterred by the wet and gloomy weather as they marched to a council offices to protest plans that would see green belt land "destroyed".
More than 100 residents and councillors from across Hertsmere held a demonstration outside Hertsmere Borough Council’s offices in Borehamwood on Thursday evening.
It was ahead of a full council meeting in which it was agreed to send the Hertsmere draft local plan out for public consultation from October 11.
In September, council documents were released which revealed which sites in the borough were most at risk of being developed to meet Government housing targets of just over 12,000 new homes by 2038.
Julia Dunsford, who lives in Well End, helped organise a protest march which was coined 'Save Our Green Belt'.
Around 100 people met near Hertswood Academy before taking a five minute walk down to the council offices while holding placards and banners and chanting 'Save our green belt, yes yes yes'.
A tractor was also involved, slowing vehicles in Shenley Road down eventually, and causing a long line of traffic.
The marchers were joined by more demonstrators at around 7pm at the entrance to the council offices before a number of speakers were invited to address the crowds.
Among those who spoke were the respective leaders of the opposition groups at the council; Labour’s Jeremy Newmark and the Lib Dems’ Jerry Evans.
Conservative Elstree & Borehamwood town council leader Pat Strack also spoke, along with Borehamwood Labour councillor Michelle Vince, Green Party candidate John Humphries, chairman of the Elstree & Borehamwood Green Belt Society Dr Ann Goddard, elderly Borehamwood resident Joan Dorrington, and the family at Strangeways farm in Well End, whose land is at risk of being developed into a large film studios.
All of them spoke about the importance of maintaining Hertsmere’s vast swathes of green belt land.
The draft local plan would reportedly see the borough’s green belt cut from 80 per cent to 75 per cent.
Some of the protesters on the march included residents from towns and villages across Hertsmere including Shenley and Bushey.
Jane Jolly is concerned about plans for 140 homes and a care facility on land off London Road in Shenley.
She said: "We want to live in a village, not in a town. I wanted to come and show my support here to try and make a difference."
Linda Kaiser from Well End said: "We are going to lose green belt land which is not good for the environment. Well End is a small village but it is gradually disappearing. Enough is enough. How many (film) studios do we need?"
Related: Council shows backing for Hertswood Studios in Borehamwood
Borehamwood councillor Michelle Vince described it as a "tragic day" that people had to come out in this type of weather to "defend what is theirs".
Her colleague Cllr Newmark spoke about the importance of responding to the consultation and "ensuring residents’ voices are heard".
Cllr Newmark told protesters that his party disagreed with comments from members of the Goverment that the only way of solving the housing crisis is to build on the green belt.
The councillor spoke about instead filling the "hundreds of empty homes" in Hertsmere and said building on the green belt had to be a "last resort".
Organiser Mrs Dunsford said the turnout proved how important this issue of housing targets is to the community.
In the council meeting, which began at 7.30pm, Tory and Labour councillors voted to send the draft local plan out to consultation for six weeks.
The three Lib Dem councillors voted against doing so. Leader Cllr Evans said the current plan is "unworkable" while colleague Paul Richards said his party is calling for a 50 per cent reduction in Hertsmere’s housing targets, to be reviewed in five years time.
The group added: "Council leaders must pause the process and go back to Government to negotiate a fairer deal."
After the council meeting, Conservative member for planning, Cllr Harvey Cohen, said: "From October 11, everyone will be able to have their say about the proposals in our draft Local Plan.
"Preparing a Local Plan is a complex process, and we still have some way to go. The public can help us with that by giving their views. In addition, we'll be looking to engage with a range of local groups and stakeholders."
The council says newsletters will be posted through residents’ doors explaining how they can get involved in the consultation.
Further details can be found at www.hertsmerelocalplan.com
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