Annette Brooke directly challenges Gordon Brown on Green Belt Protection
March 18, 2009 3:27 PM
Annette Brooke in the House of Commons
Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, today questioned Gordon Brown at Prime Ministers Question Time calling for the South West Regional Spatial Strategy to be scrapped.
Annette Brooke asked Gordon Brown if the Government was still committed to 'robustly protecting' the Green Belt, and if so will he scrap the strategy for the South West which threatens local Green Belt land.
In response the Prime Minister avoided the question stating that the Government is doing more than any other Government has to protect the Green Belt.
This direct questioning is part of Annette's ongoing fight against the South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which proposes the building of houses on Green Belt land in her constituency. This would result in an extra 2750 homes in Lytchett Minster and 700 more in Corfe Mullen.
Annette Brooke previously highlighted local people's protests to the Prime Minister when she delivered a letter to him at 10 Downing Street.
She has also spoken against the RSS in four Parliamentary debates, presented two petitions to the House of Commons and sponsored an Early Day Motion calling for the South West Regional Development Strategy to be scrapped.
Annette Brooke commented "It is unfortunately no surprise that the Prime Minster did not answer my question properly. He would prefer to avoid the issue than admit that his proposed policy in this area is draconian and deeply unpopular with local residents.
"I recognise that we need more houses, but it is the manner in which they are being imposed upon us that is unacceptable. Such is the strength of local feeling that 35,000 representations were made in response to the RSS proposals; this is a record number and the whole process has been slowed down because of it. The fight to protect our Green Belt continues."
Notes to Editors: because of the record number of representations, the Government's response to the Consultation on the Strategy is delayed and as yet a timetable hasn't even been published. Originally a response was expected before Christmas.
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