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"As a resident of Somerset I know only too well what a beautiful part of England we live in, any proposed development of land within it can only have devastating effects. The Vivary Green Wedge plays an important part in not only providing a natural flow of clean air into Taunton but is also home to numerous wildlife. We need to preserve these spaces not only for our future but also for those fortunate enough to be growing up in this wonderful part of Somerset."

Sir Ranulph Fiennes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vivary Wedge Campaign on BBC Somerset – Tuesday 23rd February

 

Statement from Jeremy Browne MP

“I have a presumption against new building on any of the green wedges – including the Vivary Green Wedge. They are an essential part of the character of Taunton , and are greatly valued by local residents. I think the national targets being imposed on Taunton Deane are completely unrealistic. They are actually a fantasy, because the Government can have whatever targets they want, but there has to be a commercial basis for the developers to want to construct that number of houses, and there isn’t. But even if they were economically attainable, the imposition of top-down targets is undesirable. I am concerned that mass-scale house building will fundamentally alter the character of Taunton , and put excessive pressure on services like Musgrove Park and our road network. All councillors, from all political parties, are being put in an invidious position of being legally forced to identify sites for development.”

 

 

 

Jeremy Browne MP has today (Feb 23rd 2010) tabled the following motion in the House of Commons and also written to the Secretary of State for local governmment:

Taunton Deane development
That this House opposes the targets for new housing building being imposed on Taunton Deane by central government; regards them as unrealistic in the current economic climate; further regards them as undesirable due to their adverse impact on rural Somerset, including the 'green wedges' that bring the countryside into central Taunton; believes that excessive development will put undue pressure on road networks and key local public services; regrets the invidious position that councillors from all political parties are put in by being legally forced to identify land for development even when they have legitimate concerns about its suitability; emphatically recognises the need for practical levels of new development, especially of affordable housing, but wishes this growth to be organic rather than based on top-down targets and sensitive to the requirements of Taunton Deane as identified by the people who live in and represent the area; and urges cross-party agreement to suspend imposed national and regional development targets and replace them with a sustainable model of house building which is proportionate in scale, fosters natural communities and respects the attractions of the countryside.

 

Front page of the local paper (click image to read whole article)

 

On the local TV (click image to watch)

 

We have all been astounded at the support we have received from the local Taunton public. We thank you very much.

Comment from Mark Formosa - Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Taunton :

“The proposed housing development at Killams and Mountfield is so big that the Deane council is saying a new school would also have to be built to serve the area, and possibly a new community hall as well.

The Deane council has stopped listening to the concerns of local communities, so I will continue to speak up for people and make sure their voices are heard loud and clear.”