| Stop Hanley Grange response to Tesco's announcement |
|
|
|
PRESS RELEASE24 JULY 2008 – 10.00
Campaign against Hanley Grange eco-town continues Campaigners against Hanley Grange, the so called eco-town at Hinxton in Cambridgeshire, have vowed to continue their fight until the plan is defeated. The proposal by Tesco was dealt a major blow when the Wellcome Trust, which owns 270 acres of the site, refused to make its land available for development. In spite of this, Jarrow Investments Ltd, which owns the rest of the site on behalf of Tesco, announced today that they are continuing with their bid for the remaining land to be an eco-town of 6,500 houses. Julie Redfern, chair of the Stop Hanley Grange campaign, said “We’re very disappointed but not surprised that Tesco are proceeding with this proposal. There is still uncertainty in the government's plans, especially following the legal opinion published by the Local Government Association yesterday, so I can see why Tesco won’t pull out until these are clearer. In 2006, Sir Terry Leahy, the Chief Executive of Tesco, said that Tesco ‘is a responsible developer working with the community rather than against it’. Well the overwhelming majority of this local community - ordinary people, the councils and our MPs - is against this. But instead of listening to the arguments and to local people, many of who are, or have been, their customers, Tesco seems determined to ride roughshod over us. We’re confident that Hanley Grange won’t be selected as the site for a so called eco-town when Ministers decide next year. It’s just a pity that Tesco is determined to make it a long and anxious wait for people.”
Brian McCarthy explained the next steps for the process. “The various appraisals of sustainability, transport, environmental impact, finance and delivery are due to be submitted to the DCLG by the developers this month and will be made available for consultation later in the summer.
“The Stop Hanley Grange action group will be working closely with all interested parties - including Cambridgeshire Horizons, district and county councils, and relevant experts - to pick out the weaknesses in these submissions to ensure that these are properly highlighted during this consultation. This will help ensure that they don't pass the criteria for eco-town approval by Ministers, towards the end of the year.
“We don’t have the financial resources of Tesco, and we would plead that anyone with relevant technical expertise who might be able to help us - whether planning lawyers, people who understand the water issues, or environmental specialists - or in any other way - can they let us know through our website stophanleygrange.org.uk” |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|