A huge development site covering over 700 acres has been proposed by developers, reaching across the Green Belt north of Barton-Le-Clay to Wrest Park and to Lower Gravenhurst. This would have a significant impact on the Parishes of Gravenhurst, Meppershall and Shillington, and I am campaigning to stop it.
Join me in opposing this development
We must ensure the provision of high quality, affordable homes for everyone, but developments need to be sustainable; they should not deplete valuable agricultural land, limit recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike, nor degrade the overall quality of our rural environment.
I am concerned that future generations will have less enjoyment from our natural inheritance if this huge new town were to go ahead - the size, scale and positioning of this speculative project in and around our villages would over-whelm our communities, trample unspoilt Bedfordshire countryside, and have a significant negative impact on the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Why you should join the campaign
- The site is not in Central Bedfordshire’s Local Plan, and there is no identified need for housing at this location.
- Traffic flows through our villages are already significant and the impact from construction and future residential traffic would over-whelm our rural roads, negatively impacting the safety and wellbeing of horse riders, cyclists and walkers/joggers.
- Recreational opportunities around Wrest Park would be significantly interrupted given the new town will buttress the boundary of this nationally significant Grade 1 listed site.
- The new town is so large it would be visible across a huge area including Meppershall, Upper Gravenhurst, Shillington, Apsley End, Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve, and the Chilterns AONB. It will be an eye-sore from many miles away!
- The effective merger of Barton-Le-Clay, Silsoe and Lower Gravenhurst would remove bands of valuable agricultural land and countryside hosting important wildlife.
- Green Belt is designated to prevent urban sprawl, and the arguments for this development are simply not exceptional.
My correspondence relating to this campaign are attached and can be found below.