News
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Nigel Huddleston joined 400 demonstrators from across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire on Sunday 3rd May to protest against the plans to build more than 5,500 homes on the green belt to the east of Luton.
Video of speakers: here
Speaking at the event (organized by local campaigning group KEOLG - Keep East of Luton Green), Nigel Huddleston told demonstrators that: "The plans are being imposed on the area as part of the government's regional house building targets - targets that an incoming Conservative government has committed to scrap. But, as the general election is still a year away I encourage local residents to participate fully in the current consultation process by sending in their comments to the local committee responsible for assessing the plans and considering public opinion.”
Nigel encouraged people to write, email or send in post cards that have been designed by KEOLG - that will be delivered to thousands of houses across Luton and North Hertfordshire in the next few weeks. He also said "The plans are fundamentally flawed and would cause considerable congestion and put pressure on already stretched local social services. I am dismayed that we are considering building on green belt land when so many houses in Luton sit empty and while acres of brownfield site in central Luton still remain undeveloped."
Councillor and European Parliamentary Candidate Claire Strong said that: "North Hertfordshire Council strongly oppose the plans and are developing arguments against it to send into the committee as part of the response to the consultation." She expressed "fury that the committee comprised only members from Bedfordshire, while the building would take place over the border in Hertfordshire."
Also attending the rally was Kevin Fitzgerald from the CPRE - Campaign for the Protection of Rural England - who commented that: "The number of people who turned up was a clear demonstration of the strength of feeling on this issue", and encouraged people to respond to the consultation by the deadline of 12th June.
For a video of the speeches at the event click here. Lots of great pictures can be found on the KEOLG site.
For more information check out www.keolg.org, or the joint committee's webpage: www.shapeyourfuture.org or call them on 01582 547096.
A public meeting to discuss the proposed development and the consultation process will be held at Wigmore Church at 10am on Saturday 9th May. All interested parties are welcome to attend
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