Rallying cry on Green Belt

4:34pm Thursday 28th August 2008

New Henley MP John Howell is rallying south Oxfordshire residents to keep up the fight against moves to build 4,000 homes in Oxford's Green Belt.

He has written to every parish council within the Green Belt calling on them to stand firm in the fight against the planned extension south of Oxford, along Grenoble Road.

Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has backed a review of part of Oxford's Green Belt to allow the new homes to be built.

The consultation on the proposal closes on October 24.

Dr Howell said: "With the holiday season now over, we've two months to show just how unsustainable the Government's proposals are.

"Gordon Brown's promises that he would protect the Green Belt have been exposed as worthless and the resulting destruction would lead to urban sprawl, more congestion, more carbon emissions and a reduced quality of life.

"We couldn't believe the Government when it said it would protect the Green Belt so why should we believe any promises now about this development?"