Ely Lib Dems say "Thank You" for Mereham Victory.

6.52.20pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 2nd Sep 2008

Ely Liberal Democrat leader, Haddenham Councillor Gareth Wilson says “thank you” to the people of East Cambridgeshire for keeping the Mereham new town out of their countryside.

ELY Liberal Democrats have given a resounding vote of thanks to everyone who supported their campaign against the threatened Mereham new town.

As they celebrated the Government's decision to throw out the plan for 5,000 new homes in the East Cambridgeshire countryside, they paid a special tribute to all those who helped fight the multi million pound project.

"This was a community effort, a community campaign and it was the whole community that clearly said NO TO MEREHAM," said Ely Lib Dems leader, Haddenham Councillor Gareth Wilson.

He and his fellow Haddenham councillors, Pauline Wilson and Ian Allen, supported by the Ely Lib Dems group, pulled out all the stops to make sure the Government knew that the Mereham new town would be a disaster for the district.

And their campaign received fantastic support from residents and organisations across the region who were adamant the new settlement should not be built between Wilburton and Stretham.

The project, by Australian developer Multiplex, was rejected by the Government on Friday because it considered it could lead to major traffic congestion on the A10 and merge the villages leading to a loss of identity.

Cllr Wilson said: "I want to say thank you to all who put up Say No to Mereham posters in their windows or on billboards in their gardens; thank you to the hundreds of people who wrote letters of protest, manned stalls on Ely market and at the 2007 Haddenham Steam Rally and to all those who signed the petition.

"Thank you to those who braved the cold mornings and evening for seven weeks to wave banners outside the appeal hearing at Haddenham's Arkenstall Centre.

"Seventy five people spoke at the inquiry and there were those who researched the details which were included in the thousands of pages of evidence to present the best possible case. I thank all of you."

He also wanted to pay tribute to those who sat through the inquiry, donated money to pay for the posters and tee shirts and delivered leaflets or spread the message door to door drumming up support.

"This was a wonderful community effort showing a fantastic community spirit," he said. "It proves what can be achieved when everyone comes together and throws their weight behind a common cause.

"We have all secured a hard fought victory and everyone deserves the highest praise."