news story

24th September 2008

Residents Turn Out in Force for Protest Meeting
 

 Photo shows the meeting chaired by Omar Beg (chair of Pucklechurch Parish Council) and being addressed by Steve Webb MP

Residents of Pucklechurch and Shortwood turned out in force last night (Tuesday 23rd) for a public meeting organised by local MP Steve Webb. More than 150 residents attended the meeting at Pucklechurch Village Hall to find out more about plans for 8,000 new houses to be built in the Green Belt around Shortwood.

Lib Dem MP Steve Webb gave a presentation explaining where the proposals had come from and how local residents could register their objection to the Government Office of the South West. Parish Councillor Martin Smith showed slides where he had simluated what 8,000 houses would look like, which clearly demonstrated that the small village of Shortwood would be completely swamped. Following the presentations, a wide range of points were made from the floor, with residents overwhelmingly opposed to the plans.

Commenting after the meeting, Steve Webb said:

"The biggest concern of local residents is the Government's plans to rip up the Green Belt around Pucklechurch and Shortwood. Once there is a breach in the Green Belt, the floodgates will open and massive development is likely to follow. This will have a devastating effect on the quality of life of local residents and will put still further strain on the already congested roads network. I hope that all local residents will follow the advice given at the meeting and will register their objections before the deadline on 24th October".

The meeting also heard from Pucklechurch parish councillor Marilyn Palmer who chairs the South Gloucestershire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). She told the meeting that the importance of the Green Belt was the fact that it was a permanent buffer against urban sprawl. She added that simply removing the Green Belt in response to central government pressure for more housing was totally unacceptable.

*Click here to see Steve Webb's presentation*