Speak out to save Greenbelt, say Longford homes campaigners
Campaigners against plans to build 1,750 houses on green fields want residents to make their voice heard.
An open session will be held tomorrow in Longford as part of the public inquiry into proposals by developers Robert Hitchins for land near Innsworth.
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The Boddington-based company wants to build 1,750 houses on land, designated greenbelt, off Drymeadow Lane at the western end of the village.
And those opposed to building on the land say people should come to the meeting to make their views known to the planning inspector.
Tim Courtney is a member of the Save the Countryside Group which has been campaigning against plans outlined in the Regional Spatial Strategy to allocate Greenbelt land for housing around Cheltenham and Gloucester.
He said: "The local people, the parish council and district council have objected, and you'd think that would be the end of it but it isn't.
"Hitchins are saying the RSS has approved the development of green belt for housing but the RSS hasn't yet been passed."
Mr Courtney said people should come to the meeting and make their objections known.
He added: "The planning inspector wants to hear from residents. Hitchins has been making its case all week and people against this destruction of the Greenbelt need to make their views heard as a proper part of the inquiry."
A spokesman for Robert Hitchins said the company would not be able to comment until it heard what people had to say.
The proposals for the land have gone straight to appeal because Tewkesbury Borough Council's planning committee failed to rule on the plans in time by the end of April, although it did say it would have turned them down.
The inquiry is expected to run into next week. At its completion, the inspector, Christina Downes, will recommend to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether to pass or refuse the plans.
The public session will begin at 7pm tomorrow at Longford Village Hall.
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by Adrian, Cheltenham
Thursday, July 16 2009, 8:11AM
“How many reasons not to do this are needed before this is stopped?
Greenbelt, flooding, environment...
We urgently need to preserve out environment for the future in order to grow food and provide natural resources that we take for granted. In years to come we will seriously regret it if we build over our remaining green spaces. As in the banking crisis they make the profits and the rest of us suffer the losses. It is tragic.”
by Margaret, Cheltenham
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 6:55PM
“We must conserve our green spaces - they are our children's heritage and could well be needed in the not too distant future to grow our food locally.
Houses should only be built to the highest known eco standards - to be carbon neutral. We must listen to experts on this subject, before it is too late. Prince Charles gave us many answers in his Richard Dimbleby Lecture recently.
Houses should be built where the local people need them -
and not decided by authorities hundreds of miles away, but always placed so that everyone has access to open spaces.
We must find ways to utilise the nearly 1 million houses, left empty, before building into the countryside.
Boarded up council houses should be refurbished and rented out to families in need.
Maybe a scheme could also be found whereby older people living on their own could be subsidised to move to smaller well placed properties, and left with capital to spend in their remaining years, thus releasing their houses for younger families. At the present time, older people will not move, as the cost of moving into an apartment/smaller property with all the overheads, can cost as much or more than their present property.
New ideas are needed - but it is our responsibility to conserve our green spaces for the next generations. Once built upon, they will be gone for ever.”
by concerned, Gloucester
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 9:48AM
“Hands off our Greenbelt!
It's there for a reason.”
by Rich, Glos
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 9:46AM
“I see that MP's have raised an Early day motion in Parliament to return power to local councils to decide where housing goes. Lets hope that Tewkesbury Borough council throws this out and puts new houses where they are needed”
by Rich, Glos
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 9:41AM
“I see that MP's have raised an Early day motion in Parliament to return power to local councils to decide where housing goes. Lets hope that Tewkesbury Borough council throws this out and puts new houses where they are needed.”