The biggest problem here is that the anti green laning movement have among their ranks people who are accustomed to whipping up strong feelings on whatever the cause of the moment might be. Hattersly is, in many respects, wrong. His language has been carefully tailored to invoke the response that he is looking for.
It is likely that he has been approached by an organisation; perhaps the RA byt perhaps another, and asked to bring his considerable political influence and experience to this "problem".
How do we respond? We have no coherent defense against these people, and no one who is standing up and challengin Mr H. to an open debate. If one person who was verbose and canny enough to carry out the debate, were to challenge him he would look silly to turn it down and you can bet your ass that local radio would welcome the event and put it on air.
So who do we turn to? No one, we just keep spouting out on our little forum (little is not meant as an insult here), about how wrong he is and he keeps looking at the feedback and saying... "Money in the bank!"