Hanley Grange- a threat to our area

6.47.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Apr 2008

When developers revived the Abington new town plan in 2004, local Liberal Democrats led the campaign to stop it.

Now, John Batchelor is backing Tim Stone, County Councillor for the Pampisford area, and local residents in fighting Hanley Grange, one of the sites short-listed in the Government's plan for 10 "Eco-Towns". A new town on the doorstep would cause massive harm to our village.

This town of 8,000 houses would fill the A11/ A505/A1301 triangle. When first mooted in 2006, it wasn't an Eco-Town. What's changed? Nothing. Even the name's a made-up fake. As fake as the idea it could be a sustainable community.

Surrounded by main roads, a mile from the M11, a place for people commuting to an expanded Stansted airport and London, the whole proposal is about as green as a jumbo jet. Help us by signing the petition at www.stophanleygrange.org.uk.

Development in our area must be concentrated in Northstowe and around Cambridge. Unlike the local Conservatives, Liberal Democrats are firmly opposed to extending the boundaries of Linton to accommodate speculative building.