Ready for a fight

Campaigners from a protest group opposed to controversial plans for an eco-town near Bingham are urging people to join their fight.

The Government is expected to announce within weeks if the former RAF Newton site is to be earmarked for up to 6,000 homes.

The group set up to fight the proposals, No2Newton, say the scheme poses a real threat, and has urged residents not to be complacent.

Mr Peter Savage, a member of the group, said: “Some people think it has gone away but it hasn’t. The threat is there.

“The Government hasn’t dropped us. It is ignoring our correspondence.

“It has produced this sustainability assessment that shows we are in category B. It has put us third on the list.”

No2Newton opposes the plan because of its potential impact on Bingham and surrounding areas. It claims the site does not meet eco-town criteria, and could not be environmentally friendly because of inadequate transport infrastructure.

The Government is not due to make a decision on which of the 12 shortlisted locations across the country will be selected to have eco-towns until the second round of public consultation ends on February 12.

Mr Savage said the former air base could be taken off the list at that stage, but they did not know if that would happen.

No2Newton plans to print thousands of leaflets outlining its campaign and deliver them to residents.

Mr Savage said people needed to make their voices heard before the end of the consultation period.

He said: “Ideally we want to reach the villages as well.

“Very few people locally want an eco-town. People are quite willing to chunter and receive emails but taking action is another issue.

“They should recognise the threat is worse than it was last year.

“If they put us on the list after the consultation ends, people will be up in arms — then there will be a lot of fuss.”

Mr Savage criticised the Government for its lack of publicity of the consultation.

He said: “It is disappointing that they seem to have done nothing to draw this important issue to the public’s attention or to encourage responses from the public.”

“The Government seems hell bent on pressing on with this policy that is totally misguided.”

If RAF Newton is selected, the group is considering a protest rally in Bingham Market Place.