THE KEY decision on whether the Government will shortlist the controversial 15,000-home eco-town plan for Great Glen is to be made this Thursday (July 16).
The long-awaited decision by the Department for Communities and Local Government was rumoured to be announced before the Parliamentary summer recess on July 21, and this was confirmed by the department's press office on Tuesday.
It said today (Mon
day, July 13) that the big announcement will be made on Thursday morning or afternoon.
Keep your eyes on the Mail's website on Thursday - we will break the news the minute it is announced.The Co-operative Group wants to build a 15,000-home eco-town on farmland it owns between Great Glen and Stoughton, a plan which was shortlisted by the Government in April last year.
The DCLG is looking at ten different eco-town sites across the country and has to decide which proposals go forward.
Oliver Whitney-Coates, a DCLG press officer, said today: "To all our regular contacts in local and regional media - to be aware we will be publishing the eco-towns planning policy statement on Thursday - this will include the list of locations the government is supporting and the final set of standards (on issues like affordable housing and transport) that eco-towns will have to reach.
"The announcement will be either in the morning or lunchtime (TBC) with a ministerial statement and local and national press notices. There will be no advance or embargoed press notice."
Meanwhile, protesters against Co-op's 'Pennbury' proposal will be heading to 10 Downing Street that day (Thursday) to hand over a 14,953-name petition against the eco-town.
Dr Kevin Feltham, chairman of the Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco-town, said: "Now the Government seems about to be announce the decision about Pennbury, we are delivering the petition opposing the location of the eco-town. There are 3,853 names on an e-petition and 11,100 names on a paper petition."
He added: "Receipt of the petition at No 10 is by a lackey – not important people like Gordon Brown."
Phil Edwards, a Co-operative Group spokesman, said: "We have one of the most financially viable schemes which meets the strict criteria the Government has laid down for eco-towns.
"A shortlisting decision will not give planning permission – it will allow people choices in the planning process as to where new communities are delivered and they have to go somewhere."
