As many of you know I have been taking a close interest in the application to develop a solar farm on the land to the North East and West of Elstree Aerodrome. This decision will be taken by the Hertsmere Borough Council Planning Committee on Thursday.

I have been engaging with residents, local councillors, and Hertsmere Borough Council throughout this period. Having considered it in detail, I remain very concerned that the size and scale of this application will have a disproportionate impact on our green open spaces.

This is properly a matter for the Planning Committee, not the Member of Parliament, and I appreciate the wider considerations which the Committee must deliberate, including the need to address the Climate Emergency.

But I do think it is important that they consider whether this scale of development is appropriate for our local community. I am not convinced that it is, and have shared this view with local councillors.