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FOE URGES LABOUR MPs TO REBEL ON GREEN FIELD HOUSING

26 Jan 1998

“That this House deplores the recent decisions by the Government to allow large scale development in the countryside; is deeply concerned that the protection of the green belt and green spaces may be further weakened by the Government in the future; and urges the Government to strengthen protection for the countryside, while encouraging the renewal of the towns and cities, by increasing to two thirds the share of new housing which is built on previously development land” [2].

Simon Festing, FOE's Housing Campaigner said:

“Bulldozing the countryside for millions of new homes will scupper Labour's policies to control car use and regenerate inner cities. Labour MPs must speak out against these crazy plans by refusing to support the Government in this debate.”

Friends of the Earth has identified at least five Labour MPs who stand to lose their seats if plans for green field housing get the go ahead. They include Paul Stinchcombe(Wellingborough), Tony Clark (Northampton South), Thomas Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre), Diana Organ (Forest of Dean) and Anne Cryer (Keighley). Other MPs known to be concerned include David Drew (Stroud) and Paddy Tipping (Sherwood).

Last week, an all party Parliamentary group was formed “to educate and inform Members of both Houses about the implications of housing development for both urban and rural areas”.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Household projections by the Department of Environment published in 1995 suggested a need for 4.4 million new homes by the year 2016. The previous Conservative Government proposed a target that 60% of these should be provided on re-used land. Friends of the Earth supports the recommendations of the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Development, that at least 75% of the new homes should be on re-used land.
Planning Minister, Mr Richard Caborn MP stated in an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on 12 December 1997 that "the target for using previously developed land remains at 50 per cent".

[2] Tomorrow (Tuesday), the Conservatives are using part of the Parliamentary time they have been allotted as Her Majesty's Opposition to debate “Development in the Countryside and the Green Belt”. The motion above is likely to be voted on at the end of the debate (at about 7:00 pm).

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