Enough is enough say Leckhampton homes campaigners
ENOUGH is enough. That was the message from more than 500 Leckhampton residents who are fighting plans to build more houses on open fields.
Renowned environmentalist Jonathon Porritt and Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood encouraged residents to make their views heard loud and clear on a controversial blueprint for housing in the area over the next 20 years.
Leckhampton Green Land Action Group called the meeting on Friday in a bid to mobilise support against the Joint Core Strategy, which could see up to 40,500 homes being built in the county over the next two decades.
One of the proposals on the table is to build 1,650 more homes in Leckhampton.
Mr Porritt told the packed audience at Leckhampton School the housing numbers had been based on estimated population figures, which estimate more people living alone in the future.
He said: "Right now we have 2.25 people per household in this area. The developers say this will change to 1.25 per household. What if the projected increase is wrong?"
Residents have battled to save green land around Leckhampton for years, he said, urging them to continue.
"It does not matter how many times these proposals are turned down," he said.
"These developers will keep coming back time and again."
Mr Horwood, whose father was one of the founders of Leglag, said new housing should be dispersed across the county, particularly in rural areas where it was desperately needed.
He said: "There has to be a point when a built-up area says, 'We are full now'. The main example I use is central London. The royal parks have been there for centuries. They were protected areas outside of the city and the city had to grow around them. That is what we are asking for here."
Despite unanimous support for a motion strongly objecting to development of 1,650 houses in Leckhampton and Shurdington, disheartened residents felt their views would not be listened to.
Sylvia Charlewood, of Hillands Drive, said: "If we complain about people trying to build on our green land, will anybody listen to us? I want to know where we go (to object) and who has the last say."
The JCS was drawn up by officers from Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham councils to look at the future of housing and economic growth in these areas.
The consultation runs until February 12. To have your say, call 0800 073 1441, email info@gct-jcs.org, or write to the Joint Core Strategy Team, Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 9SA.
11 Comments
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by Matt1006
Monday, January 23 2012, 4:38PM
“Thousands on the housing waiting lists, apparently. And these 1,650 new homes will mostly be totally out of reach to them, apart from the chunk designated as "affordable". So the section of the population most in need of housing will be (by & large) bypassed by these new homes. Of course they can't all be handed over to housing associations, although if Joe Public doesn't buy them, it is an option...
Why not brownfield sites? Because on a plot-by-plot basis, building on a nice clean uncontaminated green field yields more profit than if the developer has to clean up a contaminated brownfield site. Developers are looking at maximising their profits, so brownfield sites are not an attractive option, unless it's cheap and/or clean. Plus a brownfield site will probably be classed as employment land, which then requires more planning to get residential use - CBC are very reluctant to allow employment land to be lost, even if the last employer on the site vacated years ago.”
by gareth68
Monday, January 23 2012, 4:24PM
“Look at the front row in the picture, looks like a recruitment party for the Concervative Party.”
by DesmondW
Monday, January 23 2012, 4:24PM
“I bet the overwhelming majority of objectors are living in their modern houses in Leckhampton. They're all shouting 'Pull up the ladder Jack, we gotta repel the newcomers. Quite disgusting !”
by gareth68
Monday, January 23 2012, 4:23PM
“No need for the residents of these new houses to find jobs as most will be Housing Association and thats what the residents of Leckhampton dont want. Unemployed lower classes affecting their house prices. More Cheltonian snobbery”
by Jellitott
Monday, January 23 2012, 4:12PM
“Why can they not build on brown field sites? plenty of them about”
by capital1978
Monday, January 23 2012, 4:09PM
“Nimby's out in force I see”
by TIMONLINE2010
Monday, January 23 2012, 3:34PM
“More houses may well be required but unless you're going to built more schools what's the point?! The housing market is pretty much stagnant at the moment so who's going to buy them?! Certainly not first time buyers.”
by LECKmole
Monday, January 23 2012, 2:39PM
“"Right now we have 2.25 people per household in this area. The developers say this will change to 1.25 per household."
Oh, so the developers have done their research and more houses required.
Well, I'm glad that evidence stacks up.”
by L_escalier
Monday, January 23 2012, 11:29AM
“And Jonathon Porritt's green credentials are woefully exaggerated. Start behaving like you actually *are* the patron of Fair Shares, Jonathon, and it might start to resemble the 'cavalry arriving in the nick of time'.”
by thomas1996
Monday, January 23 2012, 11:12AM
“I'd like to know - where do they think all these new people will find work locally? - there are hardly any jobs around now, let alone after 1,650 more houses are built! Typical greed of the developers and the council wanting all that extra council tax!”