Labour resist plans to spend 4.5 pence per head on defending Green Belt

8.37.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Labour were isolated yesterday at County Hall when they opposed a decision to spend £50,000 defending the green belt in court - around 4.5p per head of population. All other groups united to support the initiative to seek a judicial review of the East of England Plan which will cause 83,200 extra houses to be built in Hertfordshire and decimate the green belt around St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Hatfield.

Liberal Democrat Leader Chris White said: 'The County Council is expected to take a lead on behalf of the community. Even if there is only the faintest chance of stopping the Government's assault on the county, we must take the opportunity. Labour have shown that they are completely out of touch with the wishes of the community: they will pay the consequences next summer.'