Campaigners battling to stop Oaklands College developing on Green Belt land at Smallford have been dealt a bitter blow.

Councillors, who were told by the Government the plan did not breach Green Belt policy, decided on Thursday they had little option but to approve the controversial scheme.

Scores of Oaklands Action Campaigners (OAC) turned out to oppose the college's bid to move a many of its vocational courses from its St Albans city campus to a purpose-built 6,500sqm construction, technology and recreation centre off Hatfield Road.

College principal Helen Parr said the plans were the college's only chance of upgrading its cramped facilities.

A £6 million grant offered by the Learning and Skils Council (LSC) could have been withdrawn if the application was not passed by February 4.

Mr Jeremy Wilson, the college's property adviser, said the new technology block would be considerably smaller than the ageing buildings and redundant glasshouses on the Smallford campus. It was the best site for expansion because the city campus was in a conservation area.

The Highways Agency also backed the plans, claiming that Oaklands' offer to build a roundabout on Hatfield Road at the campus entrance and run a shuttle bus service between the two sites could significantly benefit local roads.

But district councillors remained unconvinced despite the council's own planning officers recommending members approve the outline scheme.

Councillor Chris Whiteside, portfolio holder for planning and conservation, said: "If this was a company trying to build on the Green Belt I believe we could and should refuse on Green Belt grounds. But, specific,advice from central government is that they do not consider this application a breach of Green Belt policy."

Councillor Whiteside said Go-East Government Office for the Eastern Region had written to St Albans District Council advising it not to refer the application to the Secretary of State.

"It's not just our officers telling us to do this, it's the Government," he said. "I do not believe we have any reason for refusal that has a chance of standing up."

Although not a member of the committee, Councillor Sheila Burton, who has vociferously opposed the college's plans since they were unveiled last year, said she was "amazed" by the committee's reaction.

"I'm tempted to ask whether there are mice or men in front of me," she said to cheers and applause from campaigners. She dismissed the college's offer of a roundabout, shuttle service and Park and Ride as "gimmicks", and she added: "It's no use people crying crocodile tears about how they've got to build on the Green Belt they are just going to rape it."

Chairman Mal Pakenham insisted the committee must make a decision, arguing refusal could result in a costly appeal and the district council being prevented from having input into the building's final design when the college applied for full planning permission. Passing the application with seven votes and one abstention Councillor Aislinn Lee Councillor Whiteside said: "If people don't like what we are doing or what the Government is telling us we have to do they have the option to vote us out."

A second application by Oaklands to use a former industrial warehouse on Acrewood Way for the next five years while the new technology block is being built was passed unanimously by councillors.

January 30, 2003 14:30