Boorley Green debate at centre of by-election (From Daily Echo)
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Boorley Green debate at centre of by-election
7:34am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News
Boorley Green debate at centre of by-election
IT HAS been one of the most contentious issues in Hampshire for months.
But housing at Boorley Green was propelled onto the national political stage last night, amid frantic campaigning in the Eastleigh by-election.
Candidates have found themselves caught up in the row – with Lib Dem hopeful Mike Thornton admitting he supported the homes plans, despite his party claiming they want to safeguard green spaces.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told the Daily Echo that some green spaces need to be sacrificed for the greater good.
He said: “Protecting green spaces doesn’t mean you don’t provide homes for people to live in. People need affordable homes to live in.”
Protesters warned yesterday that candidates could lose thousands of votes if they backed the Boorley Green plan.
One resident said at the meeting: “This plan will have an impact on local residents and also how they will vote in the upcoming by-election.”
The Eastleigh Conservatives even dubbed the Lib Dem campaign for green spaces as “hypocritical”, with leader Godfrey Olson saying their promise to protect green spaces was “misleading”.
But Lib Dems in Eastleigh hit back yesterday, saying that their plans were in line with the coalition’s stance on housing.
What do you think:
CHRIS TAPP, from Botley Park Golfers, said : "It simply is too many houses in the wrong place."
STAN HOLDEN, Botley Parish Action Group, said: "It's on grade one farm land - it's an Eastleigh Borough Council policy to protect high quality farm land."
COLIN MERCER, chair of Botley Parish Council, said: "It's in the wrong place and it will destroy Botley."
SUE GRINHAM, Botley Parish Action Group, said: "It's avoiding the local plan independent review.
"It's not recognising that Eastleigh doesn't want this level of housing."
MICHAEL COMBS, 65, from Durley, said: "I think it's totally wrong that green fields are sacrificed where there's plenty of existing sites to be developed."
MARLENE WOOD, 69, from Hedge End, said: "I think the plan is terrible.
"We just don't need the extra housing."
Comments(10)
Paramjit Bahia
says...
8:43am Tue 19 Feb 13
They are so arrogant and full of self importance that they expect people to forget how they played similar trick upon voters during last election, even at much larger scale when Huhne was elected.
They'd made all kind of promises to to whole nation in their manifesto, which were ditched within hours after elections in exchange for ministerial money, perks and fulfilment of their own egos.
Only difference this time is Lib Dems lie got exposed in time, in the middle of campaign i.e. they got caught with pants down at the wrong time.
Voters of Eastleigh should punish them not only for this lie but also for bringing our democracy into disrepute. They will be delivering order of the boot up Lib Dems back side doing not only for Eastleigh but on behalf of whole nation
johnmi
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9:45am Tue 19 Feb 13
jonnyx
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11:12am Tue 19 Feb 13
AelFred
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5:51pm Tue 19 Feb 13
www.Thecep.org.uk
renard41
says...
10:53pm Tue 19 Feb 13
jonnyx wrote:Definitely not. Had you been on the protest march (600 - 700 people) or at the planning meeting (around 800 people), you would have seen plenty of younger people, united in their despair at Eastleigh council ruining the countryside, and sickened at the hypocrisy of LibDems who claim to be protecting our green fields.
is it just the white and middle-aged/ elderly who are against this?
Worried4MyKids
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12:56pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Ignition
says...
3:14pm Fri 22 Feb 13
Splendid.
Glad to see they dragged their kids on the march with them, because clearly plenty of younger people value a golf course over their ability to get on the housing ladder without prompting or misinformation. Maybe they were promised some cash from their parents' property gains for deposits?
The demographic is identical to that which protested a housing development in my own town. Pure coincidence I'm sure.
The development went through due to the provisions in the National Planning Policy Framework as the Conservatives well know. They're just scoring political points as per normal.
Just out of interest I wonder how many of those protesting live in housing built on what was then green field land. Interesting how it's fine for their houses to be built on green spaces but to even contemplate green field building now is some cardinal sin.
Anyway that's about it. Development approved in line with the policies of the majority Tory coalition, nothing the council could've done about it as to reject it would've just resulted in a costly appeal which they know they would've lost. Simples.
Worried4MyKids
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12:03pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Ignition
says...
12:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13
I notice you didn't ask what being well housed had to do with anything.
It was a comment on how well these campaigners fit the stereotype of the 'NIMBY'.
The age, you can pretty much guarantee all are home owners with a house they purchased at a pittance by today's standards all or largely paid off, and even here in my area the demographic in terms of race was quite noticeable. I appreciate that Eastleigh is largely white incidentally.
Feel free to disagree with the actual substance of the post and we'll talk some more! :)
davel_cats says...
8:28am Tue 19 Feb 13
It has been stated the new development will include a new primary school - what about secondary education? Wildern School is already over-subscribed.
You cannot move along Tollbar Way on busy shopping days now - how will local roads cope with the increased traffic? It is a sad day for Eastleigh that this went through.