Residents protest over plan for 18,000 homes
Demonstrators waved placards in Northampton town centre in a protest to raise awareness of plans to build 18,000 homes between Grange Park, Wootton and Little Houghton.
About 50 protesters, including residents' associations and the prospective parliamentary candidate for South Northamptonshire, Andrea Leadsom, gathered in the Market Square on Saturday.
The demonstration coincided with the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (JPU) holding an exhibition about the plans, which involve a total of 40,000 homes to be built around Northampton.
Mrs Leadsom said: "The residents' associations are furious about this proposal, it doesn't make any sense. Unless you see it in print, you wouldn't think that someone could come up with such a stupid plan.
"There are already infrastructure and flooding problems. I have heard that there will be 11,000 jobs on the back of this, but there will be 25,000 people wanting a job. We want a sustainable community."
The detailed plans for the expansion of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester were published by the West Northamptonshire JPU at the end of June.
The group, which includes the leaders of Northampton Borough Council, South Northamptonshire Council and Daventry District Council, published plans showing where more than 40,000 new homes could be built to meet Government expansion targets.
Mrs Leadsom added: "The town centre desperately needs regeneration – it's not pedestrian-friendly, parking is a nightmare – there are so many things that need to be done and to have that many houses dumped on that area is just ridiculous."
The plan's critics also include MP for Northampton South Brian Binley, who called them "a joke".
Members of the JPU have acknowledged the plans will be "hugely controversial" but asked those who oppose them to offer alternative solutions, and reassured residents the plans on display are not final.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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