Eco-town in the spotlight at elections
The row over the controversial Pennbury eco-town has dominated politics in Leicestershire for more than a year.
Now political parties hope that the electorate agree with their views on the issue and vote for them in the county council elections on June 4.
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Protesters fighting plans for an eco-town make their point in The Parade, Oadby
Thousands of people have marched and signed petitions opposing the 15,000-home project, making it a key issue for people living close to the site near Oadby.
The ruling Conservatives at County Hall have cut off all dealings with developer Co-op and the Government because they say they disagree so vehemently with the plan.
They are also considering legal action to recoup the £500,000 of taxpayers' money they have spent studying the project.
Liberal Democrats have also been heavily involved in protesting against Pennbury, but they say unlike the Conservatives they are the only ones to totally oppose eco-towns, not just this one.
Leicestershire County Council's Labour group, whose Government hatched the predominantly unpopular competition, are also opposed to Pennbury, but not eco-towns in general.
County Conservative councillor Kevin Feltham has led the campaign for his party on the issue, as it is partially in his division. He said: "This is one of the major issues of public policy Leicestershire has faced in over a generation.
"The eco-town experiment has also laid bare the inability of elected local decision-makers to influence the final decision.
"We have had promises of extensive consultation before any final decision will be taken. The normal planning process has been bypassed, with Labour ministers laying down policy by diktat in the ultimate expression of top-down decision-making.
"The Conservatives have pledged to stop the Co-op eco-town. We will oppose this and other large, inappropriate developments which don't allow local people and planning bodies the final say."
Liberal Democrat leader councillor Simon Galton's division is also affected by the proposal and he has led his party's campaign against Pennbury.
He said: "Liberal Democrats were the only party to pass a motion at their last conference opposing the development of free-standing eco-towns.
"Unlike the Conservatives, we are not in favour of relocating Pennbury because we feel that the inherent flaws in the proposal mean it should not simply be enforced on another community.
"The Liberal Democrats have consistently raised our concerns about the proposed eco-town. We feel that the proposal is a work of fantasy that is unsustainable in the long-term and would have a massive and detrimental impact on local transport, regeneration and the environment in the immediate area."
Labour leader councillor Matthew O'Callaghan says his group also rules out Pennbury as an option but adds that eco-towns should not be written off altogether
He said: "Labour is broadly in favour of the principles behind eco-towns. In the right place and with the appropriate infrastructure, they could be a sustainable solution to the housing shortage, particularly affordable housing. Regarding Pennbury, we supported the establishment of an independent scrutiny panel to advise the county council on the Pennbury scheme as presented.
"We are concerned that the project will place considerable pressure, both short term and long term, on services provided by the county council including schools and highways."
For more information on the county council elections and its candidates visit www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/elections2009.
13 Comments
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by Nigel Barton, Loughborough
Friday, May 29 2009, 2:08PM
“Thank you for educating me M@Leicester. I don't hail from this county originally, so I am pleased for you to fill in the gaps in my local knowledge.
I remain convinced however, that the Ministry of Transport did try it on and would have gotten away with carving up Bradgate Park if nobody bothered to protest.”
by M, leicester
Friday, May 29 2009, 1:25PM
“Nigel, sorry mate but as any child who did the history of Bradgate park knows, it was gifted to the people of Leicester by Charles Bennion in 1928, nothing to do with Mr Brown un-named MP's or anyone else. Maybe if the people of Leicester actually looked into the history of the county as whole a bit more, our money wouldn't be wasted petitioning things that don't need to be petitioned. Sorry”
by Dave Stockley, Leicester
Friday, May 29 2009, 12:18PM
“Paul - i agree the infrastructure is currently a problem and if you read my regular posts you will know I have always held this up as a must have add on that isn't clear at present. Agreed it is essential to get this right otherwise bolting onto to villages would continue to be just as good, interestingly the infrastructure in Great Easton has suffered from the impact of new housing.
John Stitch - absolutely right, the politicians never cease to amaze!!
You may find Harborough supports it too, they have remained far too quiet!”
by Nigel Barton, Loughborough
Friday, May 29 2009, 12:09PM
“M@Leicester check out the penultimate paragraph of the webiste newtownlinford.leicestershireparishcouncils.org/bob-bown-memorial-field.html
Aswell as Bob Bown's petition of 32000 signatures the efforts of a local MP whose name I don't recall also helped to save Bradgate Park.
Perhaps Bradgate Park was gifted to the people of Leicester as a result of these efforts.”
by Paul, Leicester
Friday, May 29 2009, 12:04PM
“With reference to Dave Stockley's comments, the infrastructure for Pennbury is one of the major problems it will face. Firstly it is on the wrong side of the city from the major road network. There will be no direct rail link and the chances of a tram system ever being built are next to zero, therefore attracting new businesses will be extremely difficult and the proposed 60% of local people walking to work will be very hard to meet. The pressure on the existing infrastructure will therefore be huge.
The Co-op actually sent a reply to my concerns over these issues and said all the required infrastructure would be in place as the 1st families move in. Read into this what you will, but i'll put money on it not being extensive or effective enough if indeed it ever happens. I am also intrigued by this so called rapid transport link into the city, i can only assume that it is effectively the use of a bus lane. This whole development is doomed to failure unless some very serious issues are addressed very early on. Interesting that the only local council supporting this are Leicester City council which it has nothing to do with, and that even the Labour county councillors are opposed to it.”
by John Stitch, Leicester Town
Friday, May 29 2009, 12:04PM
“What a shame that this has been attempted to be hijacked by vote hungry would-be representatives.
The issues at stake over Pennbury are a good deal more important than Party Politics, are they not ?”
by Mr LFE, LFE
Friday, May 29 2009, 11:10AM
“Good work Dave - that's a very good and valid point regarding this brilliant new build-to-be. I can't figure out why Mr Hankey thinks that because some people from a couple of towns close to the new site makes a difference, I think that Mr Hankey should realise that it's a very small percentage of the total residents who signed it - if t was that important to them they all would have signed it surely, plus, they would have all turned out to the village hall to the meetings??
I see most of those who were opposing it aren't making an appearance on here now either - are they giving up knowing they're fighting a losing battle?
The in favour minority of all those months ago are now the majority...you're going to have to accept it's going to go ahead!”
by M, leicester
Friday, May 29 2009, 11:10AM
“Nigel, I think you will find that the only reson the M1 doesn't sit in the middle of Bradgate park is because it was given to the people of leicester, therefore no one can build roads etc through it. Just a shame this isn't the case with the rest of the greenbelt land, not just in Leicestershire but all over the country.”
by David Hankey, Great Easton, Leics.
Friday, May 29 2009, 11:01AM
“Mr.Stockley you and your ilk are in the MINORITY. You only have to look at the list of all those who are opposed to this fanciful plan to know that. And I don't just mean individuals who have taken the trouble to sign petitions but groups and prominent people who are vehemently against this proposed monumental new build.
it is completely the wrong location for such a development.”
by Dave Stockley, Leicester
Friday, May 29 2009, 10:28AM
“I still support the idea of eco towns and Pennbury.
We have to build new housing and social housing somewhere and I dont think bolting onto the end of current towns and villages has worked as infrastructure has not been put in (Kibworth being a notable exception).
If they get the infrastructure right, using poor farmland and an airport is not a bad idea.
Sure, I'll get shouted down by the vocal minority on here, but they need to know they are still a minority in Leicestershire as most have shown they dont care by NOT signing petitions”