A new 25 year Development Plan was approved by the Conservative controlled North West Leics
District Council at a special meeting on Tuesday 24th April. The plan proposes up to 4500 houses to be built in South East Coalville in the next 20 years and also abandons plans for the Bardon Relief Road.
In a
packed Council chamber, Greenhill Labour Councillors Nick Clarke and Ron
Adams proposed an amendment to the plan calling on the Bardon by-pass to be included in the plan, together
with other infrastructure improvements in the area.
Councillor Clarke said
“If developers are to be allowed the privilege of
building on green fields surrounding my home town, then it is right and proper
that some of the huge profit generated by these developers is used to improve
the roads and infrastructure for those adversely affected by their actions".
The Labour amendment was voted down by the Tory majority on the Council.
Councillor Dave De Lacy (Labour spokesperson for
Transport) has launched a petition demanding the decision be reversed.
Councillor De Lacy said
“The proposed development equates to another town on the outskirts of Coalville. How can the
already overcrowded roads cope with this amount of development? The decision
to abandon the Bardon Relief Road must be reversed.”
Councillor Ron Adams said after the meeting;
“I encourage anybody who supports the need for a Bardon
Relief Road to take part in the consultation and sign our petition. If we can
generate enough support this might just persuade the Tory administration to revisit
their position. It is blatantly obvious to anybody who lives on, or uses Bardon
Road and the surrounding area that a relief road is desperately needed.”
The Labour Group at NWLeics District Council and
supporters of the Relief Road will be out and about collecting signatures for
their petition over the coming weeks. You can also sign it on line at;
http://bit.ly/KB2oHh
http://bit.ly/KB2oHh
