BRILLIANT NEWS ABOUT ST ALBANS'S SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DAFT REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

3.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st May 2009

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Sandy Walkington has hailed the triumphant result achieved by St Albans District Council in overturning the Government's proposals for hoise-building in the St Albans Green Belt.

"Liberal Democrats formed the Hands Off Herts campaign to fight the Labour Government's plans to extend Hatfield westwards and Hemel Hempstead eastwards into our precious Green Belt," Sandy said. "There were just too many houses going to be crammed into the wrong places. It would have coalesced Hemel, Hatfield and St Albans and turned south Hertfordshire into another extension of suburban Middlesex. St Albans deserves better than that.

"It was a brave decision of St Albans District Council to challenge the Government in the High Court. Many people said they were wasting their time. Well they have won this round and given the Government a bloody nose. It's a great victory for St Albans and for common sense."