Eco-town developers hit back at MP (From Cotswold Journal)

Eco-town developers hit back at MP

8:36am Wednesday 9th July 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

THE companies proposing to construct the controversial eco-town near Mickleton have hit back at criticism of the project by the Cotswolds' MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

The St Modwen and Bird Group companies retaliated when Mr Clifton-Brown wrote a letter to the Government's housing and planning minister, Caroline Flint, detailing his opposition to the controversial eco-town that would be called Middle Quinton and be built at Long Marston, Warwickshire.

Mr Clifton-Brown wrote that the eco-town's 6,000 homes would be insufficient to support the necessary infrastructure, local roads are inadequate for the volume of traffic that would be generated, there is inadequate information about the environmental impact and not enough employers would be attracted to the town because of its small size, thus increasing car usage by forcing residents to commute to Birmingham and elsewhere to work.

He suggested urban extensions would be superior alternatives to eco-towns as they offer shorter periods for the establishment of community cohesion because friends and relatives live nearby.

But the companies' spokesman, Antony Calvert, said Mr Clifton-Brown's comments were surprising because the firms were proposing to provide "considerable" funding towards creating the western bypass missing link and are examining re-establishing the rail connection with Honeybourne.

He said: "We are planning to create 3,000 local jobs servicing the new town and enhance the local economy by using local contractors in the construction of Middle Quinton.

"Mr Clifton-Brown mentions the need for sustainable infrastructure.

"Middle Quinton will be built with new schools, medical facilities and already has existing on-site roads and drainage.

"The alternative is to build housing in existing villages and other areas around the locality.

"This would put a huge strain, not only on local village services but the very feel and ambience of the area."

• Print
• Email
• Share