MARTIN URGES COUNTRYSIDE CAMPAIGNERS TO STEP UP FIGHT

11.09.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Oct 2009

CHELTENHAM MP Martin Horwood has urged countryside campaigners across Cheltenham to weigh into the next round of the battle for the town's green spaces. Three local councils - Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury - will shortly be publishing their draft Joint Core Strategy as part of the process to implement an eventual Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the south-west of England. The RSS controversially allocates 12,800 new homes to the Cheltenham area pushing development out into green fields to the north and south of the town. Although all three councils formally oppose the RSS, they are obliged to consult with local residents on the plans.

Martin said 'I know everyone has protested many times already but the three local councils are giving us another golden opportunity to makes our voices heard. They are inviting everyone to tell them what we think of the government's plans and we should do so - loud and clear. We need to give them all the ammunition they need to fight the government's plans. The fact that there were more than 30,000 objections to the RSS itself made a big difference and has slowed down the whole process to the point where we really can win. A big response to this consultation will help our chances enormously.

The RSS is based on housing numbers that go far beyond our local needs. They are based on fantasy economic growth rates that would be unsustainable even if they were right. House prices are high in Cheltenham but that isn't because we haven't concreted over enough countryside. It's because this is an attractive place to live with good jobs, great schools and easy access to the countryside. We urgently need to give councils and housing associations more flexibility to meet the housing needs of the 3,500 people on the housing waiting list within the town. But accepting a housing total more than three times higher that allows developers to build expensive houses on treasured green spaces doesn't help anyone.'