news story

12th September 2008

Campaign Against South Glos Over-Development Steps Up a Gear With Public Meetings and Online Petition

The campaign against the threatened 32,800 houses in South Gloucestershire will gather pace in September and October with two public meetings hosted by Northavon MP Steve Webb.

The MP has organised events in Pucklechurch Village Hall on Tuesday 23rd September at 7.30pm and at King Edmund Community School, Yate on Thursday 2nd October, also at 7.30pm.

The events will give local residents a chance to hear in detail the plans for massive house-building in the local area and will explain exactly how to respond to the Government consultation which closes on 24th October.

The MP will also use the events to hear local opinions before he leads a debate in Parliament on the issue on Tuesday 7th October.

To reinforce the campaign Steve Webb's website is running an online petition against the plans, which has gathered nearly 1,000 signatures within days of going live, with hundreds more being added every day. Leaflets with details of the campaign are also being delivered to thousands of households across the Thornbury & Yate constituency.

Steve Webb said:

"No-one doubts that we need some new housing for local people, but over-development on the scale proposed will ruin our area. If we are to stop these plans we need a massive response to the Government's consultation.

"These public meetings and our leaflets and website are designed to help people navigate their way through the Government's complex documents and make their voice heard. I would encourage everyone who cares about our area to register their view, both by signing our online petition and by feeding in their comments before October 24th.

"When I stand up in Parliament to defend our area, I want to be able to demonstrate to ministers the strength of local feeling, and large numbers of petition replies and responses to the official consultation are the best way to do this".