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London Green Belt Council.

Grey Belt Threats – Request for Photos. Deadline 16th January.

Message from London Green Belt Council.

An existential threat to the very concept of the Metropolitan Green Belt appears to be emerging as land owners, developers and local authorities alike have this year begun to use the NPPF December 2024 ‘grey belt’ definition to reclassify Green Belt sites for development. Far from the idea presented by government ministers of ‘grey belt’ as small sites, of low-quality and previously developed, many are extensive, agricultural land and/or highly biodiverse.

Can you help?

The London Green Belt Council is seeking photographs (using a mobile is fine) plus brief details of land now redesignated by LAs or argued by developers to be ‘grey belt’.

  • LOCATION (town/area postcode if known)
  • GREY BELT PROPOSAL REFERENCE (planning application/Local Plan)

And if details available:

  • Number of houses, energy infrastructure, solar farms etc, whether mixed development and size of the site you have photographed.
  • Any special features of the site, natural features, footpaths.

If you do not know all the details, the Location and Reference will suffice.

We hope to create a record of how the new NPPF affects our valuable countryside and present it to government and the media in February 2026.

Please send details plus photos as a separate attachment (jpg or similar) by email to info@londongreenbeltcouncil.org.uk by Friday 16 January 2026.

Please keep it simple. See examples on page 2 in document below:
https://rickmansworthresidents.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PHOTOS-OF-GREY-BELT-LGBC.pdf

See this previous article which signposts to sites in Rickmansworth:

https://rickmansworthresidents.org/2024/05/planning-and-local-plan/

By R.D.R.A., ago
Sunday 30 November Rickmansworth Market

The next Sunday Market is on 30th November 10.30am-2.30pm

Let’s support stall holders and businesses in Rickmansworth High Street this Sunday. There will be: Artisan Food • Wreath Making • Gifts • Advent Calendars.

The RDRA will also be there so come and visit our stall to chat about local issues!

PCSO Beeson from the Rickmansworth Neighbourhood Policing Team will be also be around on Sunday and keen to hear about any concerns you have regarding Anti-Social Behaviour, crime or any other issues affecting you or our local community.

By R.D.R.A., ago
Three unitary authority model map in Hertfordshire

Three Rivers supports 3 unitary authority model for Hertfordshire

After the recent consultation on this issue, the council voted 7 to 4 in favour of a three unitary authority model.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of the Council, said: “The council has made its decision on what we believe is in the best interests of this district and the residents we serve. It is vital that councils have a strong connection to the communities they serve in order that those communities still feel connected and that they have a say.”

Today, 28 November, the final council submission to the government will be made followed by another public consultation in the Spring and the final final decision on which model it will support – two, three or four unitaries – is expected in Summer 2026.

Read more about it on TRDC website:
https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/news/trdc-supports-three-unitary-model

By RDRA, ago
Attend important meeting

Rickmansworth Local Area Forum on 13th November 2025 at 7:30pm

If you are able, please come along to the next Local Area Forum council meeting to hear about the Aquadrome, in particular Woodland Path and Ebury Play area and ask questions or voice your concerns. This meeting will be held in Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth WD3 1RL (location details).

Agenda (view on council website)

  • Any other business
  • Introduction & Apologies
  • Community Safety Update
  • Local Plan Update
  • Aquadrome Update
By R.D.R.A., ago

What’s new with the Woodland Path, closed since March 2024?

The report below is about the Aquadrome, from the Climate Change and Leisure Committee, held on 15th October 2025.

The Environment Agency has finally released the flood modelling on 2nd October which had delayed the completion of the Hydrological survey, which was preventing the Woodland Path from re-opening. This report says that the Hydrological survey should now be completed by the end of the 2025. But what are the next steps after that?

Read report: Supplement Supplementary papers – Rickmansworth Aquadrome Programme 15102025 1930 Climate Change

By R.D.R.A., ago

FoI: Woodland Path

The RDRA Chairman requested a Freedom of Information request on the following questions:

  1. When (on what date) was the decision to close the Woodland path taken?
    9th February 2024
  1. Who was responsible for taking that decision?
    Associate Director for Environment
  1. When was the Environmental Agency Asked/Commissioned to do the Hydrological Survey?
    The EA has not been asked nor commissioned by TRDC to do a Hydrological Survey. Under their responsibilities for water management the EA have been in the process of updating their Flood Modelling for the Upper River Colne, which will inform a Hydrological Study of the Aquadrome commissioned to JBA by TRDC in 21 March 2024
  1. When was the Environmental Agency’s Hydrological Survey Report received by the Three Rivers District Council?
    The Council initially received the EA updated Upper River Colne Flood Model ( it is assumed that this is what the enquirer is referring to) on 2nd October 2025 with a further updated version received by the council on 8th October 2025
  1. When is the Environmental Agency’s Hydrological Survey Report being published and is in the public domain and available for public scrutiny?
    That is a question that the requester should pose to the EA. If this question in fact refers to the council commissioned Hydrological Study it is expected that, as reported to the councils Climate Change and Leisure Committee on 15th October, that this will be complete by the end of the calendar year and published in early 2026.
  1. When is the TRDC scheduling to implement the Environmental Agency’s Hydrological Survey Report Recommendations?
    EA Upper Colne Flood Model does not contain recommendations, it is a model.
    Further details on this matter have been published in the report to TRDC Climate Change and Leisure Committee of 15th October and can be found on the council website: Agenda for Climate Change and Leisure Committee on Wednesday, 15th October, 2025, 7.30 pm – Modern Council item 11a.
By R.D.R.A., ago