Press Release: residents respond to Long Marston's shortlisting

For immediate release
3 April 2008

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RESIDENTS’ RESPONSE TO SHORTLISTING LONG MARSTON ECO-TOWN

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

The BARD Campaign is dismayed that the Government has ignored its plea to reject the proposed eco-town at Long Marston. The inclusion of this ill-suited site on the consultation shortlist, announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint MP today, makes a mockery of the Government’s principle of sustainable development.

As residents of Stratford and the surrounding villages already know, Long Marston site is not suitable for a successful eco-town: it is isolated, has poor transport links and it is in an area that has no need of housing or employment regeneration. Moreover, the new town will have huge negative impact on both the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon and nearby Vale of Evesham – a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The proposed town of over 6000 houses plus shops, a school and leisure facility, will be two-thirds the size of Stratford-upon-Avon and only 6 miles away from it. Such a massive satellite town threatens to overwhelm Shakespeare’s birthplace – one of the UK’s most significant heritage sites and an important tourist attraction.

Warwickshire County Councillor Izzi Seccombe, and BARD Campaign member said:

“I recognise the ability of eco-towns to deliver sustainable and affordable housing. Situated in the right place, they would alleviate the country’s housing shortage and would represent an exciting prospect.

“However, building 6,000 new houses in Long Marston is utterly inappropriate. It would put unsustainable pressure on Stratford’s transport infrastructure and local services.

“The local economy already benefits from full employment. My fear is that a new town, on Stratford’s doorstep, with a population up to 20,000, would turn the area into one big commuter belt. Residents would have to travel miles, by car, to jobs located elsewhere in the region. There is nothing ‘eco’ about that.

“It makes no sense to site this town in the south of the county when North Warwickshire/South Staffordshire are crying out for regeneration, i.e. new jobs, new houses, new schools. Furthermore, those areas have much more appropriate transport links.

I do hope the government allows for a full and transparent regional consultation so that a sensible location can be found. “

Another BARD member, Stratford District Cllr Mike Brain said:

“A new ‘eco-town’ two-thirds the size of Stratford-upon-Avon, housing around 20,000 residents, will devastate this world-famous historic town. There simply isn’t the appropriate infrastructure to cope with a development of this size.

“The site is an isolated rural area which does not meet the government’s own criteria of building eco-towns near established settlements which have good infrastructure and services. “

ENDS

For further information or request for interviews, please contact:

Melanie Riley,
melanie@bell-yard.com
020 7936 2021
M: 0777 55 912 44