“Ann Bond has not noticied one poll that indicated just 71% against Pennbury!

She has the luxury of sitting on the sidelines from where she can practice the art of 'Yah-Boo' politics. Harborough councillors, however, have the weight of responsibility for determining their response to a possible planning application for Pennbury. If councillors 'fetter their discretion' by declaring a view one way or the other before that application is even recieved, they run the risk that they will be unable to avoid a charge of prejudice. It would be like a jury giving a verdict before hearing the evidence, in response to newspaper stories and a local witch-hunt.”

“The Co-op has yet to define what it means by affordable. It says that it is too difficult to develop brownfield sites in Leicester for affordable houses - yet successful social housing projects have happened in Belgrave and Highfields; Caroline Flint visited one in Aylestone last year.
There are lots of brownfield sites in Leicester waiting in the pipeline, such as the eco-village of Ashton Green (3,500 homes) and Waterside (5,000 homes.)
Very suspiciously, the Co-op has offered to build some of the required 30% affordable homes of Pennbury in Leicester itself!
If the eco-town of Scharnhauser Park in Germany is anything to go by, then a 3-bedroom house will cost £400,000 and a 1-bedroom flat £142,000 - not all that affordable for many people.
What is more the German model does not look all that pleasant to live in.
The Co-op pictures look very nice, but they are probably misleading. For the density of houses they are proposing, they will need buildings of some 6 storeys high! Where are they?”

“Well done Harborough, very brave standing up to these loud mouth protesters who represent less than 1% of the Leicestershire residents.

I think Harborough know in their hearts they are doing nothing to help their district and see this as a way of funding the affordable housing they so desperately need.”

“I am appalled that after all this time HDC are unable to decide. Surely, they have an opinion!!

I appreciate the fact that no formal Planning Application has been made but we have it on good authority, that of the Housing Minister Ms.Beckett, that there is "no done deal", "Government interference will not happen", "the decision will always rest in the local planning process" and "sites not meeting the criteria will not happen".

For God's sake Ms.Smith get off the fence, stop the intransigence or move over and let someone else do the job!!”

“The Harborough Chief Exec Sue Smth really does take the biscuit,she and the team have had plenty of time to work out wht the Pennbury catastrophe will do to the area. There is a nasty smell emitting from HDC,I hate to know what is with them sitting on the fence(which of course if the Govt and Co Op get there way there will be very few fences and hedges left to suit on.) they need to get a life and sort out the CHAFF from the WHEAT?There are just under 20,000 sigs on local petitions and all the local POLLS have had 90% against.”