Barnet Council has been criticised by the borough’s Liberal Democrat campaigners for voting through a school expansion which could cause “substantial harm” to green belt land.

At Wednesday’s (February 22) planning committee, a mixture of controlling Conservative and opposition Labour councillors voted in favour of a development for Hasmonean school.

The proposal by the Jewish high school is to build on green belt in Copthall, Mill Hill, in order to create a new boys and girls school in Champion Way.

Its approval was criticised by Lib Dem campaigners, including Richard Logue who has recently defected from Labour.

READ MORE: Mill Hill campaigner Richard Logue defects to Liberal Democrats from Labour after Brexit vote

He said: “Many local people will be disappointed because it puts the future of our green spaces in Mill Hill under threat as well as damaging the environment.

“We acknowledge Hasmonean needs to provide more school places, indeed they support the community well.

“But expansion should not be to the detriment to what precious little open space that is left in the area.

“This 15 acre site will fence off public land and deny its community use forever and bring in substantial traffic problems to the streets of Copthall.

“Other schools around Barnet provide private transport for pupils to get to school, let’s hope Hasmonean all follow this course.”

The Lib Dems also pointed out Tory councillors Melvin Cohen and Mark Shooter are former Hasmonean pupils, questioning whether there was a conflict of interest.

According to Barnet Council, both councillors declared a non-pecuniary interest at the beginning of the meeting, after taking advice from the council’s legal department.

It was not considered a conflict of interest and they were permitted to vote.

Leader of the council Cllr Richard Cornelius said: “In common with all planning decisions, the Conservative group did not take a position on the Hasmonean application.

“Four of our members made up their own minds to support the application, while two chose to vote against it.”

Cllr Cornelius’ opposition counterpart, Labour leader Barry Rawlings, agreed by explaining councillors vote on planning decisions individually and do not follow a party line.

He said: “It is a shame to be encroaching on more green belt but the fact of the matter is we need more school places, Barnet is already oversubscribed.

“We can look into ways the community can continue to use going forward as the planning process continues.”

The application will be submitted to mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the secretary of state for further consideration.