A MAJOR new public consultation is being launched this week by regional planners desperate to concrete over large parts of our countryside. The East of England Regional Assembly – already told by the High Court to go back to the drawing board over its

A MAJOR new public consultation is being launched this week by regional planners desperate to concrete over large parts of our countryside.

The East of England Regional Assembly - already told by the High Court to go back to the drawing board over its plans for Times Territory's Green Belt - is asking residents their views on the number of homes needed up until 2031.

This is a period of time 10 years longer than the original East of England Plan covered.

And county councillor Derrick Ashley, executive member for planning, is calling on residents to make their voice heard.

He said: "Make no mistake, this scale of growth would have fundamental implications for our county and will dictate how Hertfordshire will change over the next 25 years.

"Unless we try and influence the overall scale of development and how it is distributed, then we can't complain if the final plan comes up with something we don't like."

The new, enlarged East of England Plan is proposing between 75,000 and 107,000 homes for Hertford-shire between 2011 and 2031.

This does NOT include developments of 30,000 properties north of Harlow and 5,500 homes east of Luton - both of which would actually be in Herts.

"It's our county, and this is our opportunity to help shape its development," Cllr Ashley added.

The consultation launches on Wednesday and runs until November 24.

Full details of how to respond will be published online at www.eera.gov.uk at noon on that day.