Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, is proposing that there should be 32,800 new homes built in South Gloucestershire by 2026, most of them in the Green Belt, land that is supposed to stop our villages being swamped by development.
We need more affordable homes, but this figure is unrealistic. If local targets are not met, which is likely with the current downturn in the housing market, it's been made clear that Councils will find it difficult to stop houses being built on land not earmarked for development.
They're planning to shut our major hospital, Frenchay. They're planning to cut the number of hospital beds. The roads are beginning to seize up already. And the Government has deleted public transport proposals like the Yate rail turnback from their consultation (this is vital to get more trains to stop at Yate Station)
What you can do:
(1) Tell the Government what you think by responding to their consultation:
The Government has not made this easy! However, a big response is ESSENTIAL. If you want to reply by post you can obtain a response form by ringing 0117 900 1743.
Replies must be sent to: Regional Planning Team, Government
Office for the South West, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, BRISTOL, BS1 6ED
The easiest way to respond is by going to http://tinyurl.com/6z6pdz. Please use the form to say what 32,800 houses in South Glos would mean for your local area, in terms of impact on:
Green Belt
Traffic and transport
Local services
Copies of the proposal documents are available on-line
or at libraries or by appointment at GOSW by ringing 0117 900 1743.
The deadline is 5pm on Friday 24 October.
(2) Sign our petition (by 3 Oct) so that Steve Webb can present the petition in the special debate in Parliament - online at http://www.stevewebb.org.uk or by filling in the form on the special Focus leaflet that's being delivered at the moment. Watch for it dropping on your doormat!
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