Council chiefs have decided to scrap controversial plans to use greenbelt land for new houses in Stoke Bardolph. Gedling Borough Council leader Councillor John Clarke, deputy leader Cllr Michael Payne and Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth, cabinet member for growth and regeneration, decided in a cabinet meeting not to push ahead with the proposals.
In a joint statement, the councillors confirmed that the greenbelt land to the east of Teal Close will no longer be consulted on for a housing development. They said: "We’ve listened to the views of the residents we serve in Stoke Bardolph, Teal Close, Burton Joyce and surrounding communities and decided to protect the greenbelt land to the east of Teal Close.
"We have removed this specific site from the public consultation on the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan Preferred Approach. This specific site in Stoke Bardolph will not now be consulted on for a future housing allocation.
Read more: More snow for Notts as Met Office's Christmas week verdict released
"The Government set a compulsory housing target for a least 7,950 homes to be built in Gedling borough by 2038. The Government’s policy has been to penalise councils that do not meet their compulsory housing targets."
They added: "The Government’s targets mean sites such as green belt land to the east of Teal Close in Stoke Bardolph were put at risk for future housing development. We share residents’ concerns about compulsory housing targets set by central Government that do not take account of local views and local circumstances.
"We urge the Government and their members of Parliament to urgently clarify their policy in terms of compulsory housing targets for council areas - a letter from the Secretary of State doesn’t amount to a change in Government policy. Thank you to the residents of Stoke Bardolph, Teal Close, Burton Joyce and surrounding communities who shared their views with us. When we say we are a listening Council, we mean it.”
Following the decision, Stoke Bardolph Tory borough councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams, who had been campaigning against the plans, said: "We won. And when we say we, we mean our local residents and those across the of the whole of Gedling borough who wanted to see our greenbelt protected from yet more housing.
"The flora and fauna of the beautiful Stoke Bardolph is protected for future generations and we’d like to thank everyone who campaigned with us. It shows that political pressure, with an election around the corner, can really make a real difference.
"Labour’s U-turn on their housing plans for Stoke Bardolph is a great first step, but our greenbelt should never have been put at risk in the first place by them. This is just the beginning - the greenbelt and our beautiful countryside is not up for sale and last week’s decision forms the start of the fightback of the rural communities, suffering years of detrimental development.”
Ahead of the council's decision, residents in Stoke Bardolph shared their concerns over how the village would be changed forever if they lost that greenbelt land. Retired Chris Rickett, 71, explained that he did not like the council's plans to use the land.
He said: "It's greenbelt land - we are surrounded by fields and I quite like it that way. If they built all the way down to that field there we will be joined to Nottingham - there won't be any green space between Nottingham and us."
Technical support worker Richard Winter, 48, had similar concerns about additional housing connecting the rural village to others nearby. He said: "We would just be connected to Netherfield and Burton Joyce villages.
"I think it's a terrible idea as it would be building on the green spaces that everyone uses around here. It also floods with water and the village infrastructure isn't big enough, like the road."
One resident in his 80s, who did not want to be named, said: "Greenbelt land should be maintained, not used for housing. When you look around we used to see fields and now it's just houses everywhere - the whole village has changed completely.
"All you can see are houses and industrial units, so I think greenbelt land should be greenbelt land - they don't need any more houses." Stoke Bardolph resident Bob Bethall, 84, added: "I have been here since I was 15, and I would like it to stay as it is."
READ NEXT:
