BARD URGES COMMUNITY ACTION ON ECO-TOWN

The Campaign is distributing thousands of easy-to-complete postcards* to local residents to encourage a sizeable response to the DCLG. This is local residents' last opportunity to tell Central Government how inappropriate development on this scale truly is before the Government finalises its locations shortlist.

In addition to door-to-door leafleting, campaigners will be handing out postcards this Friday between 10am - 3pm from a stall outside the Post Office on Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon. Local MP John Maples, who last week gave a call-to-arms urging his constituents to make their views heard, will be attending from 1pm.

Postcards will also be put through doors in the villages surrounding the site and will be available from local shops or by request to Hilary Bliss, BARD Campaign co-ordinator:

The postcards succinctly address the key objections to the ‘Middle Quinton' eco-town:

- It would be a commuter ghetto, with thousands of residents travelling miles by car every day

- It would ruin a beautiful, historic part of the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds, abutting a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in a designated HGV Control Zone

- It would bring traffic chaos to Stratford-upon-Avon and all the surrounding villages (that's 14,300 DAILY vehicle movements in and out of the new town, by the developers own forecasts. What's more the mitigation proposals have so far failed to convince experts of their efficacy)

- Our local authorities are already planning sufficient affordable housing in our villages and towns where we, the local community, want and need them.

The BARD Campaign believes that environmentally-friendly affordable housing should be made available across the region, rather than causing the migration of thousands of people miles across neighbouring districts to one huge new town. We urge all those who concur with this principle to let the government know the strength of local feeling. That's democracy in action!

ENDS

For further details please contact:

Hilary Bliss 07720 597742

* To download a postcard, click on the pdf in the related media box. For an original copy, please contact Hilary Bliss.