Result of Eco Town debate

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Full Council meeting on Monday 12 May has decided not to support the proposed Eco Town development at Long Marston, Warwickshire, based on the information currently available.  

After a recorded vote, Stratford-on-Avon District Council has unanimously decided that the District Council will write to the Government asking for the development to be removed from the shortlist and will work across all parties to achieve this.  

"This is only the first stage for the Council in this process.  The District Council has made its intentions clear not to support the proposed development and the District Council is very unhappy to have developments like these imposed on us from Government," says Cllr Les Topham, Leader.    

In a Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr John Appleton and seconded by Cllr Bob Stevens the Council decided the following:  

This Council regrets the government's intention to impose a new Eco Town development on the residents of south Warwickshire, and urges the Minister of Housing to remove the Middle Quinton proposal from any further consideration.  

The proposal generates sustainability issues that cannot be addressed without levels of investment disproportionate to the town's size, and an impact on the valued landscape of south Warwickshire, which would be unwelcome to residents and visitors alike.  

The proposal conflicts with the Planning Authority's approved Local Plan, the allocations contained within the Regional Spatial strategy, and the moratorium on further development currently in force in Stratford-on-Avon District.  

The Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Minister of Housing expressing in the strongest terms the Council's objection to an Eco Town at Long Marston, referred to as Middle Quinton.  

The points raised both in this Notice of Motion and in the debate are to be fully reflected in the Council's response to the consultation due at the end of June. This response should be agreed with the Leader of the Council, the relevant local Ward Members, the Portfolio-holder for Planning and the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

See also: Eco Town Debate Webcast (On-Demand)