MARTIN ON THE GREEN BELT (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

MARTIN ON THE GREEN BELT

April 18, 2007 6:33 PM

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood today seized a national platform to highlight issues affecting the Green Belt around Cheltenham. Speaking from the Liberal Democrat front bench in a parliamentary debate on housing, he attacked government policy as 'unsustainable, unpopular and unnecessary' and called for 'an intelligent approach to the Green Belt'.

Martin condemned government policy that simply followed housing market forces by planning more and more houses in areas of high demand like Cheltenham.

Martin commented afterwards:

"Quite apart from the impact on our Green Belt and green land, this lets developers off the hook in areas that actually need and want development more. This includes urban centres like Birmingham who fear their efforts at regeneration could be undermined, and also rural areas that are struggling to keep their schools and shops open and viable and would welcome appropriate, smaller developments."

While strongly defending the principle of the Green Belt, Martin said an 'intelligent approach' was needed. He quoted one example of land that should be brought into the Green Belt and one that could be taken out:

Continuing a longstanding campaign, Martin called for the so-called Leckhampton 'white land' to be brought into Green Belt status. Martin has already called for this policy in submissions to the South West Regional Assembly and Cheltenham Borough Council and has opposed Tewkesbury Borough Council plans to allocate land there for housing. "As a longstanding member of the Leckhampton Green Land Action Group - which my father helped to found - I'd like to see this area given more permanent protection. Although the immediate threat of development near Farm Lane has been lifted for the moment, we still face a constant battle against developers and councils unless Leckhampton is given the added protection of Green Belt status."

Martin supported releasing at least one site from Green Belt status. Cheltenham Racecourse has suggested releasing part of its South Car Park south of the Best Mate enclosure. Martin commented "this is actually a site that would be more appropriate for a hotel than for housing but it shows that you can take an intelligent approach to the Green Belt, releasing so-called 'brownfield' sites where appropriate. If this helps us to secure valued green space elsewhere, and prevent the joining together of Cheltenham and Gloucestershire, then all to the good."