Government should scrap Pennbury plan now says Liberal Democrat MEP

8.51.00pm GMT Tue 13th Jan 2009

CASCET - the campaign against the proposed Pennbury eco-town - has received backing from East Midlands MEP Bill Newton Dunn. In a letter to the Chairman of the Campaign Group, Bill Newton Dunn calls on the Government to remove Pennbury from the short list now. He describes the site as "inappropriate" and expresses deep concern that the legacy for future generations will be negative.

Unable to attend Fridays public meeting personally due to other constituency commitments, Mr Newton Dunn says he will be there in spirit

"Only a few weeks ago, during a visit to Market Harborough, I placed on record my deep concerns regarding the proposed eco-town. The suggested site is inappropriate and its impact concerning, and the potential legacy for future generations is negative.

"I understand that my Liberal Democrat colleague, Julia Goldsworthy MP, visited the site a few months ago with Councillor Simon Galton and Phil Knowles. She spoke with residents and campaigners from CASCET at first hand. I know that, like me, she feels the Pennbury site should be removed immediately from the short-list by the government in London.

I have asked that my support for the CASCET campaign to stop the Pennbury eco-town be passed onto the meeting. I have also confirmed to Cllr Simon Galton and Phil Knowles that I would like to visit the proposed site when I am next in Harborough, and I hope to have the chance to meet with the chairman of CASCET, the committee and the other residents."

Mr Newton Dunn also confirmed that he will be writing to the housing minister, Mrs Margaret Becket, to underline his opposition to the Pennbury proposal and call on her to take action to delete the plan from consideration.