Plan for eco-towns met with opposition
June 29, 2008
Campaigners from nearly 15 sites in England, which have been earmarked for ‘eco-towns’, are to raise their voice of protest outside Parliament. The groups include local authorities and some pressure groups. They will hand in their feedback to the first round of heated public consultation. The developments come as environmental campaigners are set to call on ministers to ‘return to the drawing board’ on the plans.
Meanwhile, the government is to begin the next round of consultation. It hopes to build 10 of the 15 planned eco-towns by 2020. They are meant to mark new, exemplary green standards in house building. The 15 shortlisted schemes comprise sites in Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire.
The concerns that the conservation charity has raised about the proposed developments are:
1. The schemes risk becoming ‘car-dependent’ housing estates.
2. Most are in greenfield sites; two are in the Green Belt.
3. Most schemes go against local plans that have been agreed with communities
4. Lack of evidence to believe that schemes will provide really sustainable models of working and living.
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