Does Hertfordshire County Council’s Conservative administration support quarrying on Ellenbrook Fields?

That’s the question that will be posed to executive member for sustainable economic growth Cllr Stephen Boulton at the meeting of the full council on Tuesday (October 15).

Ellenbrook Fields are part of the former Hatfield Aerodrome site – between Ellenbrook and Smallford – that has been earmarked for minerals extraction.

But earlier this year the county council turned down an application to extract eight million tonnes of sand and gravel from the site, over a 32-year period.

That decision is due to be challenged at a planning inquiry, scheduled to start on November 19.

However last month councillors decided to withdraw the council’s ‘reasons for refusal’ and said they would not present evidence to the inquiry, after being presented with legal and planning advice.

Following that decision that Cllr Larry Crofton – who is the Labour member of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (Hatfield East) and leader of Hatfield Town Council – intends to raise the issue at the meeting of the full council.

The full “public question” has been published with the agenda and reports in advance of the meeting.

It reads: “Given that Hertfordshire County Council will not actively defend the Development Control Committee’s decision to reject planning approval for quarrying at the former Hatfield Aerodrome site, and the site’s continued inclusion in the county’s current and emerging Minerals Plan, does this Conservative administration support quarrying in Ellenbrook Fields?”

The meeting – which starts at 10am today – can be viewed at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk.