Councillors Ian Campbell and Vicky Edwards have called for Bedmond to be designated as a Conservation Area to help protect its fields and heritage buildings from development.
Conservation areas are zones of historic interest that benefit from extra protections in planning law.
Vicky said at the meeting that it was a disgrace that Three Rivers had never designated Bedmond as a conservation area, when the council discussed reviews of conservation areas in other parts of the district.
She highlighted that Bedmond is the birthplace of the only English Pope (Pope Adrian), has eight Listed buildings, six Locally Listed buildings, the Holy Well, and ancient woodland.
Bedmond was facing unprecedented pressure from housing development, on local fields and on the Bedmond Garage site, so it needs conservation protection now.
The Lib Dems on the council, however, refused to start the process to grant Bedmond conservation area status.
Vicky and Ian are now working with the Bedmond Residents’ Association to make it happen, and ensure Bedmond isn’t left unprotected from impending developments.
