news story

4th April 2008

MP Warns of House-Building Threat to Chipping Sodbury

Speaking in advance of a meeting of the South Gloucestershire cabinet on Monday (7th April), Northavon MP Steve Webb has warned Chipping Sodbury residents of the threat of mass house-building on the outskirts of the town.

The MP has already highlighted the threat of substantial house-building North of Yate, but papers to be considered by the Conservative-run Council on Monday show that the Council is looking at large swathes of land around Chipping Sodbury as potential sites for house-building. These include land on the currently undeveloped side of St. John's Way and may involve a threat to Sodbury Common.

Steve Webb said:

"We have already had a big response from the people of Yate to the threat of over-development, but the Council's document shows that the people of Chipping Sodbury also need to make their views know clearly and strongly.

"House-building on the scale that the Council is considering would have a devastating effect on the countryside around our towns and villages and would lead to traffic gridlock. I will be leading the fight on these absurd housing numbers in Westminster, and we need local action as well to convince the Council about the effect that these plans would have".

Note: The full draft consultation document can be found here.  Section 17 deals with the Yate & Chipping Sodbury area.