The progress of Hertsmere's blueprint for the future edged a step forward by the tightest of margins this week despite a determined effort by Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors to oppose the ruling Labour Group.

The second half of Hertsmere's Local Plan was voted through at a services meeting on Monday following a stormy debate about a controversial park and ride scheme, which, although aims to ease Watford's traffic problems, is proposed for a Bushey site.

The Labour Group narrowly survived defeat on a vote by eight to six to adopt the district plan, with Tory and Lib Dem members putting up strident opposition.

The new Conservative Group leader, Councillor Stuart Nagler, said he felt the park and ride scheme proposed for Bushey was driven by the ruling Labour Group in Watford to benefit their businesses but not Bushey residents.

He and Liberal Democrat councillors representing Bushey wards warned council leader Bryan Stanley (Labour): "It is our job to represent our constituents and people are speaking out very clearly that they are opposed to change in their area."

Councillors met to discuss and approve the Plan's remaining chapters and combine them with those already agreed in March so that a complete Plan charting policies for the area can be pushed on towards formal adoption by the borough.

The remaining chapters approved included movement, which puts forward policies to improve transport, encourage less use of the car and ease congestion on roads. It also contained reservations on the contentious issue of the Elstree Bypass. Plans for a Radlett by-pass have been scrapped following local opposition.

Other policies put forward in the second half of the Plan concerned issues on countryside; town centres and shopping; leisure, sport and recreation; social and community facilities and environment.

Councillors were told the main objections to the blueprint for town centres and shopping came from the private sector, saying that proposed policies for retail and commercial development are too restrictive.

A further chapter on development has yet to be approved at a meeting later this month before the Plan can go onto the next stage.

Then it can be placed on deposit, when groups and individuals wishing to make formal representations will have eight weeks to do so.

Following representations, a Government planning inspector will be appointed to preside over a Public Local Inquiry -- expected to start in February next year -- which will then deal with any outstanding objections.

On Monday it was also agreed land to the rear of Stapleton Road in Borehamwood would no longer be used for housing, but retained in the Green Belt.

Borough leaders have already agreed to resist contentious development proposals targeting key parts of Hertsmere's Green Belt land, a promise kept when they met in March to approve the first part of the district plan, which covered strategy, housing, and business and employment.

Scores of campaigners who fought vigorously to protect Borehamwood's countryside celebrated when Hertsmere Council stuck to its pledge to oppose house building on land such as at Vale/Byron Avenue and Old Haberdashers' sports ground in Croxdale Road.

But Green Belt campaigners in Radlett were not so pleased with the Local Plan after being disappointed by the council's decision not to retain in Green Belt land at 16 Watford Road.

Green Belt land opposite Batlers Green in Radlett and at Hillcrest Road in Shenley will also be used to meet the need for affordable housing despite strong protests from villagers.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.