More than 700 people have backed a campaign to stop the future development of housing on “beautiful” greenbelt land in Stoke Bardolph. Gedling Borough Council has been drafting its part of the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan, which sets out potential housing development sites across Broxtowe, Gedling, Nottingham and Rushcliffe up until 2038.
The four authorities are drawing up the plan together, and each council’s cabinet will soon vote on a preferred approach before it is put to the public. Gedling’s cabinet will consider the plans this week, including a further 360 homes on the Teal Close site near Stoke Lane, and a petition has now been set up in a last-ditch attempt to stop further development on greenbelt land at the popular beauty spot.
The petition, on Change.org, says: “Stoke Bardolph village is a free open green space for all. Visitors come to walk, run, watch wildlife and enjoy the positive well-being provided by being in the countryside environment.
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“If the greenbelt protection is removed in Stoke Bardolph, where will it end? Will it just be the start of the erosion of all Nottinghamshire’s green belt land?”
Concerns have also been raised over the flood risks that could come with further development in the area. Trent Valley Conservative councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams fear flooding in areas such as Burton Joyce, part of which was submerged in October, will only get worse if flood zones and greenbelt land is built on.
Cllr Mike Adams, borough councillor for Trent Valley and county councillor for Carlton East, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The Labour party at Gedling Borough Council seem to have a dislike for green space, evidenced as they once again try to concrete over our beautiful countryside, for a few more pounds of council tax, to improve a bit more of Arnold for their core vote. It should be called Arnold Borough Council to reflect where the priorities are.
“First they came for Mapperley Golf Course, then at Haywood Road community centre and Bowling green where I fought their plan in council meetings, with a group of fantastic members of the community and we won. Now it’s Stoke Bardolph’s turn.
“It’s not right and it has to stop. We have to stop their carelessness with the green belt and green space again. They are too quick to give it away.
“They will say ‘Government targets make us do it’, but as the £1million-plus that they have lost from consistently missing those targets, it can’t mean that much to them. Save Stoke Bardolph, as once it’s gone, once the green has been turned grey, it will never be back.”
The strategic plan is due to be considered by Gedling cabinet members this week and if approved, plans will go through to a six week public consultation. A Gedling Borough Council spokesman added: “Government has set a housing target for at least 7,950 homes to be built in Gedling Borough by 2038 and the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan sets out how and where these houses will be built.
“Most of the houses allocated are being built on brownfield sites across the borough, however, in order to meet the Government’s target, we have to look at other suitable locations near built up areas, such as extending the build at Stoke Bardolph.”
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