Dorset green belt battle for new minister (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dorset green belt battle for new minister

7:00am Tuesday 9th June 2009 in

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CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for green belt development in Dorset are taking their battle to the newly-appointed minister in charge.

John Denham has replaced Hazel Blears as Secretary of State for communities and local government after her sensational resignation just weeks before she was due to return the decision on the South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).

This controversial document lays out plans for 48,100 new homes in Dorset by 2026, and would cover swathes of greenbelt with 1,500 homes planned around Bournemouth, 2,750 at Lytchett Minster, Lytchett Matravers and Upton, and 2,400 at West Parley, Corfe Mullen and Wimborne.

And now groups fighting the scheme are calling for the new man in charge to hear their pleas before making his mind up.

Jo Haywood, spokeswoman for Save our Green Spaces, the coalition of more than 30 action groups across the South West, including seven in south east Dorset, said: “There are tens of thousands of angry people from across the region, including local councilors, wanting a word with John Denham.

“Our groups are planning to deliver thousands of letters, emails and postcards to Hazel Blears’ successor to show our increasing frustration at the government’s plan to push ahead with the strategy against strong opposition.

“We intend to take our campaign direct to new minister John Denham in Westminster. We want to be one of the first groups to meet with him and will be writing to ask for an early appointment.”

Campaigners have also welcomed a High Court judge’s ruling last month that the government’s East of England Plan for thousands of new homes in Hertfordshire must be reconsidered.

Terry Stewart, president of the Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “This sets a great precedent which could save our green belt.”

He said the local action groups were holding a meeting on June 15 to agree a “combat action programme.”

Ccouncils in the area are planning to fight their case at the high court should current housing figures be imposed on them.