The Conservatives do!

Coming soon to open spaces near you (click the picture to sign our petition)

They want to build up to 800 new houses on greenfields north of Chelmsford (between Newlands Spring and Broomfield); and at least 3,200 houses north of Springfield / Beaulieu Park. Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign against. You can sign our petition at www.dontchoke.org.uk

Link: PDF leaflet and map of greenfields where the Conservatives propose to build.

They also want to build between 6,000 and 8,000 new flats and houses within the towns of Chelmsford and South Woodham over the next 10 years. This will endanger every piece of open space and many back gardens.

The public inquiry into the overall strategy was in September/October 2007, and into the detailed plans for the town centre in April 2008. Stephen Robinson wrote about these on his blog (links below).

As regards the detailed plans for new houses north-west and north-east of Chelmsford: Chelmsford council is considering the responses to the 2008-9 consultation. It will publish its final proposals for consultation late in 2009. There will be a public inquiry after that.

The Lib Dem alternative proposals:

• All green fields on the edge of Chelmsford should be protected to prevent urban sprawl

• We need genuinely sustainable communities - with all the essential local services

• Previously-used land developed before green fields - but NO to town cramming & garden-grabbing

More information about the campaign against 'garden-grabbing'.

Our Housing Strategy statement from December 2005.

Our short statement on housing strategy from December 2006.

Lib Dems restate support for the houses to go north of Boreham - 2007 response to alternative sites proposed by developers.

How you can help our campaign

Sign our petition - Don't Choke Chelmsford.

Join our Facebook group 'Don't Choke Chelmsford'.

Contact the local Lib Dems: Stephen Robinson (parliamentary candidate) is co-ordinating the Lib Dem response on the local plan.

Send him an email using this link.

Please state your address, as your views will carry more weight if you are known to be a local resident.

The Liberal Democrats believe that

• the Council should develop a sustainable new neighbourhood north of the railway/A12 on the old gravel workings north of Boreham (to stop Chelmsford growing ever-larger and to ease pressure on roads and services)

• the development should be based around a new rail station north of Boreham, to minimise greenhouse gas emissions

• a development north of Boreham would be large enough to have its own services of shops, schools, clinics, community centres, post office, as well as railway station.

You can download posters for campaigning against the housing proposals from the download area: http://www.chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/resources/index/Campaigns

Details of Lib Dem proposals and recent comments on this subject

Borough Lib Dems give thumbs down to Tory development plans.

Lib Dems slam lack of Tory vision in development plans.

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Chelmsford North Action Group web-page - an independent group campaigning against the council proposals.