Saturday, 4 July 2009
Ford Eco-Town to be discussed
A public meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday July 6th at the St Philip Howard Catholic School, Elm Grove, Barnham. The Joint Downland Area Committee will also look at flooding, health issues and how the new National Park will affect the area. Be there if you care...
An ill wind blows no good
Question marks over their viability threaten to make eco-towns undeliverable. Ahead of a government announcement on their future next month, Chris Ames investigates. Click here...
Monday, 29 June 2009
Friday, 26 June 2009
Eco-town policy slip sparks court action
The government is being taken to court over the eco-towns policy in the South East Plan. Arun District Council has lodged a legal challenge to the policy, which states that councils should "facilitate" proposals agreed for growth points and eco-towns. It previously said they should merely "test" eco-town proposals,...
Subscriber content only - want to read on?
We'll have more on this later today...
Subscriber content only - want to read on?
We'll have more on this later today...
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Is this the first Eco Town Scheme Obituary?
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/whatever-happened-to-eco-towns/5204103.article
This is a fantastic article by Damian Arnold - the quotations from sources close to the DCLG simply echo what we have been saying all along.
Even the Chief Exec of the Town and Country Planning Association is now hoping for just 5 towns to be announced. But the article suggests (in what sounds like a preparatory leak of policy to me) that the Homes and Communities Agency will assume responsibility for the whole programme and then quietly substitute existing urban extensions for the greenfield sites on the current list.
Not quite time to pop the champagne, but is it worth popping a couple of bottles in the chiller to be ready?
This is a fantastic article by Damian Arnold - the quotations from sources close to the DCLG simply echo what we have been saying all along.
Even the Chief Exec of the Town and Country Planning Association is now hoping for just 5 towns to be announced. But the article suggests (in what sounds like a preparatory leak of policy to me) that the Homes and Communities Agency will assume responsibility for the whole programme and then quietly substitute existing urban extensions for the greenfield sites on the current list.
Not quite time to pop the champagne, but is it worth popping a couple of bottles in the chiller to be ready?
Friday, 19 June 2009
Monday, 15 June 2009
Can they just call this one an eco town and leave the rest of us alone?
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=424458
"In a debate on housing, South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley urged the new housing minister, John Healey, to make the 9,500-home settlement "the first exemplary eco-town".If it secures that designation, it will qualify for extra funding, including cash to make homes more energy-efficient."
Maybe they can save some face by having one 'eco town' to their name - and quietly let us get on with our lives?
"In a debate on housing, South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley urged the new housing minister, John Healey, to make the 9,500-home settlement "the first exemplary eco-town".If it secures that designation, it will qualify for extra funding, including cash to make homes more energy-efficient."
Maybe they can save some face by having one 'eco town' to their name - and quietly let us get on with our lives?
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Speak for yourself, mate!
http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6504927
Some Planning Lawyer claiming that even the protesters want an announcement on the eco towns soon; "He added that the desire for a prompt decision was a ‘practicality point’, even for those in opposition to the development."
Don't know what you think, but the way I see it, I'm quite happy for the Government to announce nothing until there's a general election and the country can decide on it for them.
‘Delays kill projects,’ he said. In this case, it'd be a mercy killing.
Some Planning Lawyer claiming that even the protesters want an announcement on the eco towns soon; "He added that the desire for a prompt decision was a ‘practicality point’, even for those in opposition to the development."
Don't know what you think, but the way I see it, I'm quite happy for the Government to announce nothing until there's a general election and the country can decide on it for them.
‘Delays kill projects,’ he said. In this case, it'd be a mercy killing.
Friday, 5 June 2009
Goodnight and thank you whoever...*
http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6504925
A quick update - Caroline Flint went (after nine months!), Margaret Beckett went (eight months!) - next it's some chap called John Healey as Housing Minister! Any bets on how long he will last...?
Oh, and his boss is another newbie - John Denham has been appointed communities and local government secretary to replace the - frankly weird - Hazel Blears!
* That tune from Evita where the revolving door sees off a succession of used and abused lovers seems an appropriate soundtrack for this tragedy
A quick update - Caroline Flint went (after nine months!), Margaret Beckett went (eight months!) - next it's some chap called John Healey as Housing Minister! Any bets on how long he will last...?
Oh, and his boss is another newbie - John Denham has been appointed communities and local government secretary to replace the - frankly weird - Hazel Blears!
* That tune from Evita where the revolving door sees off a succession of used and abused lovers seems an appropriate soundtrack for this tragedy
Wish us luck as you wave us goodbye...!
We wave goodbye to Ms Flint - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/05/caroline-flint-window-dressing, the only member of the government to have taken the time to come on down to Sussex and have a a bit of a look at the villages these people want to concrete over!
And she heads towards the sunset accompanied by Margaret Beckett - the Beeb website says:
1550 Margaret Beckett is no longer housing minister, the BBC understands.
And she heads towards the sunset accompanied by Margaret Beckett - the Beeb website says:
1550 Margaret Beckett is no longer housing minister, the BBC understands.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Sign for change - or not?
Now here's an opportunity to dump Eco-Towns, Gordzilla and all those expenses diddlers.
Captain Cameron has launched a webpage - SIGN FOR CHANGE... It sez, 'We want everyone - whether they support Labour, the LibDems, or the Nationalists, or no party - to join in. Through the power of our collective pressure, we can force Gordon Brown to act'.
A far easier option would be to send Patsy round to give Gordo his P45!
Captain Cameron has launched a webpage - SIGN FOR CHANGE... It sez, 'We want everyone - whether they support Labour, the LibDems, or the Nationalists, or no party - to join in. Through the power of our collective pressure, we can force Gordon Brown to act'.
A far easier option would be to send Patsy round to give Gordo his P45!
Margaret Backett's latest press conference
From the Building News website....
Housing minister Margaret Beckett said today it was possible that no eco-towns will end up being built if the government decides not to take forward any proposals.
At a joint press conference this morning with Yvette Cooper, chief secretary of the Treasury, Beckett said that work on eco-towns was progressing, with an announcement expected by the summer.
She would not say how many she expected there to be, but said: “I will say this: that if no schemes meet the standards required then there will not be any names coming forward.
“But, I would be very disappointed, and somewhat surprised, if that was the case.”
She said they had deliberately slowed down the consultation due to the court challenge that was brought by opponents to the scheme, and that “much had been read into that”.
However, Beckett said: “I am sorry in one sense that there are some proposals that have already been judged to be unlikely to reach the standards that we expect.
“But it’s got to meet high environmental standards, and I don’t regret the process.”
The two ministers said they believed the gap between the economic policies of the two parties was “bigger now than at any point since before the Thatcher years”.
Beckett said the Homes and Communities Agency was in the process of deciding which regeneration schemes would receive funding from the £400m Kickstart Housing Delivery Programme announced in the Budget in April.
Bids will be accepted until 8 June, with the successful bidders announced in July.
More than 30,000 people have registered their interest in the government’s HomeBuy Direct scheme, which aims to help first-time buyers by giving them an equity loan of 30% of the purchase price, which is funded between the government and the developer.
Speaking ahead of this week’s European elections, the pair said the measures taken by Labour to kickstart stalled regeneration schemes, boost the economy and help stave off repossessions would help Britain come through the recession “sooner and stronger”.
Cooper accused the Conservative approach to the credit crunch as being “Thatcherism with a smoother sales pitch”.
Housing minister Margaret Beckett said today it was possible that no eco-towns will end up being built if the government decides not to take forward any proposals.
At a joint press conference this morning with Yvette Cooper, chief secretary of the Treasury, Beckett said that work on eco-towns was progressing, with an announcement expected by the summer.
She would not say how many she expected there to be, but said: “I will say this: that if no schemes meet the standards required then there will not be any names coming forward.
“But, I would be very disappointed, and somewhat surprised, if that was the case.”
She said they had deliberately slowed down the consultation due to the court challenge that was brought by opponents to the scheme, and that “much had been read into that”.
However, Beckett said: “I am sorry in one sense that there are some proposals that have already been judged to be unlikely to reach the standards that we expect.
“But it’s got to meet high environmental standards, and I don’t regret the process.”
The two ministers said they believed the gap between the economic policies of the two parties was “bigger now than at any point since before the Thatcher years”.
Beckett said the Homes and Communities Agency was in the process of deciding which regeneration schemes would receive funding from the £400m Kickstart Housing Delivery Programme announced in the Budget in April.
Bids will be accepted until 8 June, with the successful bidders announced in July.
More than 30,000 people have registered their interest in the government’s HomeBuy Direct scheme, which aims to help first-time buyers by giving them an equity loan of 30% of the purchase price, which is funded between the government and the developer.
Speaking ahead of this week’s European elections, the pair said the measures taken by Labour to kickstart stalled regeneration schemes, boost the economy and help stave off repossessions would help Britain come through the recession “sooner and stronger”.
Cooper accused the Conservative approach to the credit crunch as being “Thatcherism with a smoother sales pitch”.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Ford eco town protestors on the DCLG's website
http://ecotownsyoursay.direct.gov.uk/have-your-say/latest-feedback/video/17/
Good to see that the DCLG had the guts to put the videos that Vicky, myself and others recorded at their roadshow last year.
Let's hope that they watched and took note as well!
Good to see that the DCLG had the guts to put the videos that Vicky, myself and others recorded at their roadshow last year.
Let's hope that they watched and took note as well!
ECO-TOWN ADVERT JUDGED MISLEADING BY WATCHDOG
A victory for the eco town protesters at Stratford on Avon fighting the Long Marston eco town proposals.
It's interesting to read the details and compare the kind of claims that the developers there make and realise how similar they are to those made by the businesses promoting Ford eco town!
Here is their Press Release:
The credibility of plans to build an ‘eco-town’ at Long Marston have today been delivered another blow. The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an advertisement from the developers setting out the case was misleading on four separate counts on grounds of “truthfulness” and “substantiation”.
The ASA’s ruling comes after a complaint lodged by Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff about an advert taken out in a local newspaper by the developers St. Modwen and Bird Group. The advert attempted to promote the arguments for the construction of the proposed 6,000 home new town on the Worcestershire/Warwickshire border.
Peter condemned the advert as “both factually wrong and materially misleading” and highlighted the false claims, including one that the site is unused brownfield land, where in reality around two-thirds of the Worcestershire land ear-marked for development is greenfield and open countryside. In his complaint, Peter went on to challeng claims that the new town will create 4700 new jobs. He also complained about claims for the town relating to transport provision and meeting local housing need.
In its ruling, published today, the ASA upholds each of Peter’s four complaints, concluding that:
“The ad must not appear again in its current form. The claims must not be repeated unless St Modwen and The Bird Group have evidence that supports them.”
Commenting Peter said:
“I welcome the ASA’s ruling. It is of fundamental importance that the public know the truth about the impact of the proposed ‘eco-town’ at Long Marston. I am delighted that the ASA has exposed the serious shortcomings of the claims.
“An ‘eco-town’ at Long Marston would be an economic, social and environmental disaster – it must not be allowed to go ahead.
“Surely ministers will soon realise that enough is enough. I still hope that the Long Marston site will be ditched eventually, but the Government seems determined to squander more money and resources in vain attempts to keep it alive.
It's interesting to read the details and compare the kind of claims that the developers there make and realise how similar they are to those made by the businesses promoting Ford eco town!
Here is their Press Release:
The credibility of plans to build an ‘eco-town’ at Long Marston have today been delivered another blow. The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an advertisement from the developers setting out the case was misleading on four separate counts on grounds of “truthfulness” and “substantiation”.
The ASA’s ruling comes after a complaint lodged by Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff about an advert taken out in a local newspaper by the developers St. Modwen and Bird Group. The advert attempted to promote the arguments for the construction of the proposed 6,000 home new town on the Worcestershire/Warwickshire border.
Peter condemned the advert as “both factually wrong and materially misleading” and highlighted the false claims, including one that the site is unused brownfield land, where in reality around two-thirds of the Worcestershire land ear-marked for development is greenfield and open countryside. In his complaint, Peter went on to challeng claims that the new town will create 4700 new jobs. He also complained about claims for the town relating to transport provision and meeting local housing need.
In its ruling, published today, the ASA upholds each of Peter’s four complaints, concluding that:
“The ad must not appear again in its current form. The claims must not be repeated unless St Modwen and The Bird Group have evidence that supports them.”
Commenting Peter said:
“I welcome the ASA’s ruling. It is of fundamental importance that the public know the truth about the impact of the proposed ‘eco-town’ at Long Marston. I am delighted that the ASA has exposed the serious shortcomings of the claims.
“An ‘eco-town’ at Long Marston would be an economic, social and environmental disaster – it must not be allowed to go ahead.
“Surely ministers will soon realise that enough is enough. I still hope that the Long Marston site will be ditched eventually, but the Government seems determined to squander more money and resources in vain attempts to keep it alive.
Monday, 25 May 2009
Eco towns to be ruled by the Bin Bullies
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5379041/Householders-in-eco-towns-face-charges-for-rubbish-collection.html
The Town and Country Planning Association are encouraging eco town developers to charge people for their rubbish by weight and type. So it'll be the Ford eco town and surrounding fly tipping site!
Nice.
The Town and Country Planning Association are encouraging eco town developers to charge people for their rubbish by weight and type. So it'll be the Ford eco town and surrounding fly tipping site!
Nice.
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