Support withdrawn for eco-towns
- Published: 02 July 2008 14:57
- Last Updated: 25 July 2008 11:08
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East Lindsey withdrew its support for an eco-town in Manby following protests (Photo: Lincolnshire Echo)
Local government support for the embattled eco-town programme has further crumbled.
Arun and North Norfolk DCs this week became the latest councils to officially reject eco-towns planned within their jurisdiction, leaving East Hampshire DC as the only council backing proposals for an eco-town on its patch.
Last week, the only council-promoted bid collapsed following East Lindsey DC's announcement that it was withdrawing support for an eco-town near Manby in Lincolnshire. Mid Bedfordshire DC voted a fortnight ago to formally oppose two shortlisted bids for eco-towns.
This week the Conservatives issued a statement withdrawing support for what they described as Labour's "eco-town con".
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said: "So-called eco-towns have become an eco-con mired in controversy and utterly discredited. The public have been duped."
The waning of support for the controversial initiative followed last week's slamming by the Local Government Association of eco-towns in its long-awaited official response to the programme (LGC, 26 June).
But housing minister Caroline Flint hit back at protesters on Monday, unveiling new government research which claimed the public supported the eco-town programme by a ratio of 5:1.
In a survey by YouGov for the Department for Communities & Local Government, 46% of adults supported the development of eco-towns in England, compared with 9% who
oppose their development.
When respondents were asked if they would support the development of an eco-town within five miles of their home, respondents still supported them, but only by a ratio of 2:1 (34% in support; 15% opposed).
The research was published this week to mark the start of the next phase of the eco-town consultation process.
Ms Flint said: "The second phase of the consultation will involve a series of roadshows taking place around the shortlisted sites… and a further three months of public consultation on the potential locations; and a draft planning policy statement on eco-towns."
