Peter Lilley MP has asked the Government for a debate in Parliament which would highlight Bedfordshire councillor s plans to destroy a huge area of Herts Green Belt, including the area around Lilley Bottom. On Thursday the member for Hitchin and Harpen

Peter Lilley MP has asked the Government for a debate in Parliament which would highlight Bedfordshire councillor's plans to destroy a huge area of Herts Green Belt, including the area around Lilley Bottom.

On Thursday the member for Hitchin and Harpenden asked the leader of the House, Harriet Harman, to grant an early debate "on how we can curtail the powers of local councils to fulfil the house building targets by seeking planning permission to build in the territory of other local authorities?"

He added: "That possibility arises in my constituency, where Luton and South Bedfordshire council is planning to meet its housing totals by building houses in my constituency. To make matters worse, it plans to do so in the most beautiful area known as, eponymously and anatomically, Lilley Bottom."

Ms Harman suggested raising the issue directly with the communities and local government minister Hazel Blears at the second reading of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill on June 1.