Protesters challenge leader to a live debate

Published on 14/10/2012 08:48

FRUSTRATED residents who have vowed to continue with their protest against plans to build 1,800 homes just outside Harborough are calling on the leader of the council to take part in a live debate.

Although protesters’ hopes of a re-think of the plans were dashed after a meeting last Thursday, they have said they will continue their fight against the proposed development.

Plans for the creation of a Strategic Development Area (SDA) stretching from Airfield Farm off the old A6 to the top of Lubenham Hill were stalled by the call-in and Market Harborough Against Inappropriate Development (MHRAID), protested outside the meeting.

Campaigner Nikki Keep, of Hill Top Close, said: “We hoped that the council would have been more open in their decision-making and would hear the community that they are supposed to work for.

“We feel let down and so will now campaign even harder alongside the overwhelming new levels of support we have received since the protest demonstration last week.”

MHRAID has linked up with other protest groups in Foxton, Lubenham and Great Bowden.

And they hope to have a radio debate with Cllr Mike Rook.

An on-line petition has garnered more support for MHRAID, having gained more than 300 signatures to date.

After the meeting Cllr Phil Knowles, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: “The public will feel ignored and tonight will be seen as the night localism died in Harborough.”

Cllr Janette Ackerley, spokesman for planning, environment and conservation at the council, said: “While there were some concerns raised that public opinion had not been given enough weight, the committee was mindful of a number of significant factors.”

She said these factors included the fact that the core strategy highlights 1,000 homes in the SDA as a minimum figure, the need to provide a link road and the dangers of ad-hoc planning as a result of not having a defined strategic approach.

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Protesters challenge leader to a live debate

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