Jilly Cooper Backs BARD Campaign

Mrs Cooper says of the government’s plans to force through 10 new towns, mainly in rural areas:

“This government’s arrogance sometimes astounds me. Why won’t they debate this issue intelligently with affected residents, instead of deriding all reasoned opposition? Shouting NIMBY is a simplistic response to an important issue.

“This Monday sees the end of the official consultation period – yet local soundings have been muted at best. What’s the point in having a Department for Communities if the very people it purports to represent are either not properly consulted or their opposition is ignored?

“There’s no doubt we should all modify our behaviour to reduce our carbon footprint. But you don’t need to dump eco-towns in rural areas up and down the country to effect this change. That smacks of clunking fist when gentle prodding would suffice.

“Preserving Britain’s countryside should matter to us all – urban and rural dweller alike. Smothering it with more roads, rail-links, tramways, guided buses, incinerators and the like is simply no way to address this planet’s eco concerns. Furthermore, dumping thousands of people such as key workers and low income families into brand new towns, miles away from their roots and support networks, is no way to build sustainable communities. Of course houses are affordable if no-one wants to live in them.

“I wholeheartedly support the BARD Campaign. I believe in protecting Stratford-upon-Avon, the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area may well be ‘my back yard’ – but that doesn’t make it ripe for development on this scale. Like it or not, local people and their local representatives really do know what their areas can sustain. Forcing through unwarranted and unwelcome housing development by Central Government diktat neither improves our eco-credentials nor controls house prices.

“Dear Gordon - on Monday people from up and down the country are coming to tell you their views.
Please do listen to us. Admit eco-towns in urban areas might be good in principle, but go back to the drawing board and hear what local people say about local demand. Do you really want the right idea to be floored by wrong location? Sink estates or dormitory towns aren’t much of a legacy. But take heart, there is another way to make your eco-dream a reality - in urban, infrastructure-rich areas instead.

“Dame Judi Dench and John Nettles have already spoken eloquently about their love for Stratford and I wholeheartedly endorse what they say. Shakespeare puts this part of beautiful England on the global map. Some authors and their history really are worth preserving for future posterity!”