The long-awaited decision on an appeal by developers to build 390 houses on the Leighton Buzzard road has been announced – and it’s not good news for the village. Fairfax, against whom Dacorum council and an alliance of residents and other parties mounted vigorous opposition, have been granted outline planning permission, It’s a devastating blow to all those who stood against the prospect of such a large development on our doorstep. Despite a costly campaign funded by local donations, the planning inspector has granted the appeal because Dacorum council failed to demonstrate that it could meet its annual new housing quote from any other source.

Angela Mitchell, who was a joint leader of the opposition group said: ‘I feel let down and disappointed with the legal system that should protect important areas of land from greedy developers who don’t care about the impact on local people or the area; I don’t know how they can sleep at night.’