Green Belt petition presented to Sefton Council

Southport FOE joined the lobby of Sefton Council Meeting on Thursday 22nd November. Over 100 people lobbied councillors as they arrived for the meeting. Only 50 people managed to squash into the public gallery in Southport Town Hall to hear Maria Bennett of FRAGOFF present the petition of over 4000 signatures and challenge the council to protect the Green Belt.

Peter Dowd replied on behalf of the council and said the petition demands would be fed into the consultation on the local plan. He explained that the new local plan would not be finalised until 2014, but claimed that Green Belt would be protected by the current plan until that time.

Only 3 other councillors spoke at the meeting an the petitioners left disappointed and angry that no further assurances were given.

Watch this space!