Brentwood Conservatives have launched a Borough wide petition against the development of precious key open space in Brentwood.
Group Leader, Louise McKinlay said, “We are fortunate to have some lovely green areas in the Borough, and these form part of the character of the local environment. Statements from the Leader of the Council reagarding “open season” on developing such areas are worrying to say the least and we are looking to make a stand against any plans they or developers may have. It is vital that local people have a proper say in where houses and businesses should go.”
Brentwood Council has to find land for development over the next fifteen years and during a recent meeting, the new Liberal Leader of the Council, Barry Aspinell, stated that green belt would be used and that only the country parks would be protected. He failed to clarify where any of these sites would specifically be, fuelling concerns that there are already secret Lab / Lib plans to build on open green spaces that would blight the local area.
Of particular concern are the rural and Hutton areas. Conservative Lead for Planning, Noelle Hones said, “We have already seen the new coalition’s appalling decision to grant permanent permission for travellers in Mountnessing to remain on a green belt site. This was done without any proper thought or consultation with either local residents or the Parish Council and in the absence of any strategic approach to dealing with the issue of travellers. Local people rightly feel let down and have concerns for their environment on where these house may be built and are wondering just where this will all end up. The whole thing smacks of secrecy and highlights the lack of leadership and direction on the matter, which is coming from the top.”
The petition will run over the summer and Conservatives are asking people to join them to make clear that development of key green spaces will not be accepted by local people and that they will not have sites forced upon them. Once such areas are built on, they are gone forever. Conservatives believe local people must have a say in where these properties will be built.
In addition to the hard paper copy of the petition, you can also sign online at: www.petitions24.com/hands_off_our_open_green_space or contact us to discuss further.
ENDS – 397 words
Contacts:
Louise McKinlay – 07786 324743 Louise.McKinlay@brentwood.gov.uk
Noelle Hones – 07986 174969 Noelle.Hones@brentwood.gov.uk