Dallington Heath road plan is 'trojan horse' for further development (Andrew Simpson)

Dallington Heath road plan is 'trojan horse' for further development

March 21, 2005 7:52 AM

Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Northampton North Andrew Simpson has condemned the Government's road building plans announced on Friday as providing a 'trojan horse' for developers bent on building on green field sites to the north of the town.

"The proposed link road from Sandy Lane to Dallington Heath is a 'trojan horse' that will not make development of Dallington Heath a forgone conclusion but also make the completion of the northern by-pass the inevitable next step.

That would open up the whole area to the north of the town for development and lead to unjustifiable destruction of areas environmental significance." said Andrew

Local Liberal Democrats have been the only party to consistently oppose the development of Dallington Heath on both the Borough and County Council and through local campaigns. Whilst some Conservative representatives say they are opposed to development on Dallington Heath, Conservative District Councillors sitting on the UDC seem to be in favour and Conservative led Northampton Borough Council, Daventry District Council and South Northants have all signed up to the Governments plans. Northampton North's Labour MP Sally Keeble has failed to commit either way.

"This road building programme, announced it seems even before the new UDC had met, will test the loyalty of local Conservatives to either the UDC or the best interests of the town" said Andrew. "Local people need to understand just who is sticking up for them on this issue".