13 June: "THOUSANDS MARCH IN ECO TOWN PROTEST"

Catherine Morrow reports

The latest wave of eco town opposition reached fever pitch last Saturday in West Sussex.

Two thousand residents objected to a proposed eco town at Ford by marching on the designated site with homemade banners and posters.

The plan could result in 20,000 new homes being built in Ford as part of the Government’s nationwide initiative to tackle affordable housing and sustainable living. Concerns centres around the eco suitability of the Ford area due the loss of valuable greenfield land and extra strain on the local transport network.

Passionate speeches were heard from several high profile supporters.

TV celebrity Ben Fogle said: “The word eco is simply being used to make us feel guilty for opposing it and the Government feel guilt free for imposing it. I’m here to march for our greenfields. Let them build on the brownfields at Ford airfield. But, don’t get rid of some of the most productive arable land in one of the most built up counties in England. We will fight for our green and productive lands.”

Conservative MP Nick Herbert said: “Don’t let’s pretend there’s anything eco about these proposals. It’s an eco con. Proposals that were turned down before by our local elected authorities, and they’ve been made directly to the Government by the developers, subverting local planning and procedures so that they get their own way.”