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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Protest over plans for eco-town | Protest over plans for eco-town |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Protesters have demonstrated near the site of a proposed eco-town planned for a former Army camp in Warwickshire. | |
| The scheme, for 6,000 new homes at Long Marston, is one of more than 50 similar projects across the UK aiming to create carbon-neutral communities. | |
| The government has said it wants at least 10 such towns by 2020. | The government has said it wants at least 10 such towns by 2020. |
| Protesters argue there has not been enough consultation and say the schemes will be an excuse for building houses in inappropriate places. | Protesters argue there has not been enough consultation and say the schemes will be an excuse for building houses in inappropriate places. |
| Planning 6,000-plus houses on a piece of paper does not build community cohesion in an instant Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council | Planning 6,000-plus houses on a piece of paper does not build community cohesion in an instant Izzi Seccombe, Warwickshire County Council |
| Residents from communities near the proposed sites are among those concerned about the impact they might have. | Residents from communities near the proposed sites are among those concerned about the impact they might have. |
| About 200 demonstrators turned up near the proposed site of the Long Marston eco-town on Sunday, carrying placards opposing the site. | About 200 demonstrators turned up near the proposed site of the Long Marston eco-town on Sunday, carrying placards opposing the site. |
| They fear the new homes will lead to congestion in their villages as the new home owners travel to work and take children to school. | They fear the new homes will lead to congestion in their villages as the new home owners travel to work and take children to school. |
| 'Community cohesion' | 'Community cohesion' |
| Councillor Izzi Seccombe, from Warwickshire County Council, questioned whether developing an eco-town in a rural area would be sustainable. | Councillor Izzi Seccombe, from Warwickshire County Council, questioned whether developing an eco-town in a rural area would be sustainable. |
| She said: "Eco may be eco within its community, but they all have to travel outside and there is a very large rural area they will have to travel through to get to any employment or major leisure centres or towns. | She said: "Eco may be eco within its community, but they all have to travel outside and there is a very large rural area they will have to travel through to get to any employment or major leisure centres or towns. |
| "This area is a thread of very many rural villages. We have a lot of cohesion within those communities. | "This area is a thread of very many rural villages. We have a lot of cohesion within those communities. |
| "I believe planning 6,000-plus houses on a piece of paper does not build community cohesion in an instant like that." | "I believe planning 6,000-plus houses on a piece of paper does not build community cohesion in an instant like that." |
| Some of the areas considered for eco-towns | Some of the areas considered for eco-towns |
| The remit for the planned eco-towns is that they should be carbon-neutral using the latest environmental design and technology to create more sustainable homes. | The remit for the planned eco-towns is that they should be carbon-neutral using the latest environmental design and technology to create more sustainable homes. |
| John Deegan, from one of the developers involved in the Long Marston plans, said: "The proposal is for a completely new settlement involving 6,000 new houses, new secondary and primary schools, lots of new employment. | John Deegan, from one of the developers involved in the Long Marston plans, said: "The proposal is for a completely new settlement involving 6,000 new houses, new secondary and primary schools, lots of new employment. |
| "(There will also be) investment of well over £100m in infrastructure to support the town and to relieve Stratford." | "(There will also be) investment of well over £100m in infrastructure to support the town and to relieve Stratford." |
| Energy for eco-homes should come from renewable sources - wherever possible they will be built using natural, recycled or reclaimed materials. | Energy for eco-homes should come from renewable sources - wherever possible they will be built using natural, recycled or reclaimed materials. |
| The government wants to build many eco-homes on former industrial - or brownfield - sites to avoid swallowing up countryside or green belt land. | The government wants to build many eco-homes on former industrial - or brownfield - sites to avoid swallowing up countryside or green belt land. |
| Ministers are deciding which of the proposed schemes will be short listed to go ahead. | Ministers are deciding which of the proposed schemes will be short listed to go ahead. |
| Sunday's protest near Long Marston was one of a string of demonstrations taking place in the run-up to the decision, which is expected later in the month. | Sunday's protest near Long Marston was one of a string of demonstrations taking place in the run-up to the decision, which is expected later in the month. |
| 'More affordable' | |
| Communities and Local Government, which sets UK policy on housing and urban regeneration and other matters, has not revealed who has applied for eco-towns, but expects to announce a shortlist soon. | |
| A spokesperson said: "No decisions have been taken yet. There will be opportunities for local people to have their say on the proposals before final decisions are taken. | |
| "We desperately need more homes and we need to act to tackle climate change. | |
| "Eco-towns will deliver more affordable and greener housing through their low and zero carbon technologies." | |
| Protests have been held at a proposed site near Gotham, south Nottinghamshire, and opponents of schemes in south Derbyshire and Leicestershire have petitioned Downing Street. | Protests have been held at a proposed site near Gotham, south Nottinghamshire, and opponents of schemes in south Derbyshire and Leicestershire have petitioned Downing Street. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced his plans for five eco-towns to be built on former industrial sites as he campaigned to succeed Tony Blair at No 10. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced his plans for five eco-towns to be built on former industrial sites as he campaigned to succeed Tony Blair at No 10. |
| This was later doubled to 10 eco-towns - a total of 240,000 homes - during the Labour Party conference in September. | This was later doubled to 10 eco-towns - a total of 240,000 homes - during the Labour Party conference in September. |