MP backs families in fight

Sep 7 2007 By Leda Reynolds, Birmingham Mail

FAMILIES fighting plans for a housing development in their "leafy lane" have won the backing of Meriden's Tory MP.

Residents in Elmdon Lane, Marston Green, say plans to erect 70 homes on land which is currently back gardens will create a blot on the landscape.

Around 250 residents packed into the village hall recently to form a battle plan to fight the scheme by Warwick-based Sandstone Group.

The same number of villagers have also added their names to an on-line petition on the Downing Street web-site against the scheme and residents have also formed an action group called Marston Green Opposing Over Development.

Now MP Caroline Spelman has thrown her weight behind the campaign.

"It is the Government's classification of gardens as brownfield sites that causes the problem," she said.

"This classification leaves the local council powerless to stop such proposed developments.

"I have seen the impact on both the local environment and people's lives when back garden developments go ahead.This is why my Private Member's Bill being presented next month addresses this issue.

"I am calling on the Government to reclassify gardens in a separate category to the traditional brownfield sites of disused factories."

Adrian Kibbler, spokesman for the Sandstone Group, said they under-stood residents' concerns and they had significantly modified the proposal from 90 to 70 homes.

"We need to understand from Caroline Spelman whether she accepts there's a housing shortage, as every other MP has," he said.

"If that's the case, she needs to be telling us where she would like these homes to be built. On the green belt?

"More people need housing, so where are these brownfield sites? She should tell us where they are."