People Ignored over Dallington Heath (Andrew Simpson)

People Ignored over Dallington Heath

November 21, 2006 6:00 PM

Sally Beardswoth & Andrew Simpson on Dallington Heath

This development will be a Trojan horse that allows further building over green field sites to the north of our town" said Andrew.

Following the publication by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) of plans for 3,500 houses on Dallington Heath, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Andrew Simpson has condemned planners for pressing ahead with the development despite massive opposition from local people.

"Time and again people have expressed their opposition to development on Dallington Heath" said Andrew "Yet WNDC and Labour and Conservative politicians have ignored this and now press ahead with proposals to develop the land. Even a survey by Sally Keeble MP showing 70% of people opposed development on the land has been ignored."

As a local Councillor and Lib Dem Planning & Transportation spokesperson on the Borough Council from 1997-2002 Andrew Simpson opposed plans to develop this site as far back as 1999 when a development brief was issued. In 2001 when initial plans came forward Lib Dem Councillors opposed the plans and Andrew Simpson proposed that the Local Plan (which earmarked the land for development) was changed. This proposal was then rejected by the then Labour administration on the Council. Since then both Labour and Conservative Councillors supported the creation of the West Northants Development Corporation which has taken over large planning decisions from the Borough Council.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have also opposed the Governments planned number of houses for Northampton claiming the numbers are 'excessive and do not reflect the organic growth requirements of Northampton'.

"This development will be a Trojan horse that allows further building over green field sites to the north of our town" said Andrew. "It results in the loss of a valuable green space and will lead to the threat of further destruction of our countryside".

The Lib Dems are running a petition against the development. Please support our campaign.