ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners, who fear changes to planning law will create a free-for-all for developers, took to the streets of Enfield on Saturday.

Members of the Barnet and Enfield Friends of the Earth group explained their concerns to residents and provided them with letters of objection to send to their MPs.

The group are anxious that proposals under the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework, which is currently out for public consultation, will tip planning decisions in favour of developers.

The proposal aims to streamline planning law, but asks local authorities to presume in favour of sustainable developments to promote economic growth.

Phil Fletcher, who helped organised the event in Enfield High Street, argues this will put pressure on local authorities to approve more housing – possibly to the detriment of Green Belt land.

Mr Fletcher said: “It is difficult to make it sound exciting, but it is an important decision that could affect so many people.

“There is a small minority of people who know about the plans and feel very strongly, but the majority of people don’t know about it or even that it is out for consultation.”

The Friends of the Earth group also claims the proposal has a vague definition of the term sustainability.

Members are calling on the Government to include a robust definition that ensures developments do not compromise the quality of life for future generations.

The group, who gathered around 40 signatures on Saturday, have organised a further two demonstrations.

They will be in Golders Green from 3pm to 5pm tomorrow and outside Barnet Market, in St Albans Road, on Wednesday.