Tuesday, November 04, 2008
First published : CASCET
The campaign group against the Leicestershire eco-town says the scheme’s promoter, the Co-operative Group, must do a lot more work to stay in the race for the final eco-town selection next Spring or risk complete failure.
Following yesterday’s revelations by the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) about the sustainability of the Co-op’s bid on this location, campaigners want to see the Co-op answer all the outstanding issues to meet the tough new standards, and make the information widely available so it can be properly scrutinised by elected representatives and the public. If they are unwilling to meet the standards, then campaigners are suggesting that the Co-op pull out of this risky venture in Leicestershire.
Kevin Feltham, chairman of CASCET and a Leicestershire County Councillor, said "The eco-town programme in Leicestershire is finished. With only one of the eco-town finalists being rated Grade A, and Pennbury now graded B with over 50% of issues still classified as negative, potentially negative or unknown, the writing is on the wall and it is time that the Co-op cut their losses and withdraw their bid.
“The key weakness highlighted by the Government’s assessment is still transport. We have heard no more about whether Network Rail will allow the Co-op to re-open Great Glen station, the costs for a tram line are huge with no guarantees that the Government will pay the bill, and the plans don’t take account of the destruction of London Road’s mature tree lined avenue. None of the Co-op’s traffic management ideas seem to hold water; how can they restrict homes to one car park space between two homes in practice?
"Many other outstanding issues, listed in the Sustainability Appraisal, have not been covered by the Co-op in enough detail. CASCET have complained right from the start, that the Co-op are not working hard enough on the details; they continue to leave far too many questions unanswered or they hide behind confidentiality! The public and local councils deserve to know just what is being proposed and how all the weaknesses will be addressed; we’ve had the spin, now let us see the substance.
"The Co-op must now come clean with local councils and the public, and admit that the financial crisis and their inability to respond to the flaws in their design, has claimed another victim - their Pennbury eco-town project - and so let communities across the county and city, that have been blighted by the spectre of this massive, unwanted development, try to rebuild their communities and confidence again."