How can I get involved?
We hope that you have read about our Action Group Leighton-Linslade Opposes Unsustainable Development (LOUD) on the website ‘homepage’; have signed our Petition to Parliament, and feel ‘What else can I do to fight this mass development of Leighton Linslade’, which has already seen 4,000 new homes in the south of the town either constructed or undergoing the planning process, with the town now faced with a further 6,000 dwellings to be constructed on our precious Green Belt mainly to the east of the town.
However, if the same site to the east of Leighton Buzzard were to be developed with high density housing, that 350 hectares (850 acres) could support some 12,000 new dwellings; double that planned by the Arnold White/Willis Dawson proposal.
Furthermore, it was disclosed in the Leighton Buzzard Observer during September 2006 under the heading ‘Thousands of homes could go anywhere’, ‘More importantly the developers are holding back another 425 acres (180 hectares) for ‘phase two’, bringing the spectre of more development up towards Heath and Reach and Hockliffe’.
If you are opposed to this massive ‘Concreting Over’ of our green fields and our ‘small historic market town’ gridlocked with traffic, and the lovely town centre ‘Condemned to History’; then join us and tell the Secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, in your own words, what you think about the imposed ‘housing growth’ plan being imposed by central government; how it will impact on you and your family and what will become of our town if this massive development goes ahead. Send a copy of your letter to your county and district councillor and your MP, Andrew Selous.
Have Your Say about the Massive Housing Increase and Green Belt Changes to be imposed by Central Government in South Bedfordshire. The Government need to have it spelled out to them by us, the people, that this mass housing growth is neither sustainable nor deliverable. That is why your letters are SO IMPORTANT.
Join the Action Group – by using the ‘Contact Us’ facility at the bottom of this page giving your first/last name/names, your address & postcode, home phone no. and e-mail address.(We will send out ‘newsletters’ and inform you of all Action Group meetings).
Write to the Secretary of State for Communities and local Government, Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP By letter: House of Commons, London SW1A OAA By e-mail: via blearsh@parliament.uk Some points you might like to consider for inclusion are:
Tell the minister what you think of the plans imposed by Central Government to construct the present targets of 42,700 dwellings in South Bedfordshire by 2031 (27,300 of which to be constructed by 2021) in Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis (LDHR) and Leighton Linslade. Do not forget to mention that it had never been intended for Leighton Linslade to be included in the Growth Area (see History of the Housing Growth) until the leader of Leighton Linslade Town Council; without consultation with the electorate, requested the towns inclusion which the vast majority of the population of Leighton Linslade object to passionately.
Tell the minister how this mass development of our small market town will impact on you and your family; how our road system cannot cope now with traffic congestion; how many do not have access to an NHS dentist; doctors can’t take on any more patients; police are stretched to their capacity, with the main police station being in Dunstable, some eight miles away etc, etc. The existing town lacks infrastructure such as ‘a large community/meeting hall’, all schools and the public have to share the facilities (including swimming) of one leisure centre for a population of 37,000: we have no hospital or health centre and even if the population doubled with the housing growth, we have no prospect of having these facilities in Leighton Linslade as the NHS and Primary Care Trusts are unable to fund such projects, etc, etc, etc.
Send copies of your letter to the following:
Rt Hon Andrew Selous MP the member of Parliament for South West Bedfordshire, By letter: House of Commons, London SW1A OAA By e-mail: via selousa@parliament.uk
Your Bedfordshire County Councillor To find out which county councillor covers your electoral division/ward visit: Web site http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/ which will give his/her address, e-mail address and telephone no. Or contact Beds County Council direct by telephoning (01234) 363222
Your South Bedfordshire District Councillor To find out which district councillor covers your town/village and electoral ward visit: Web site http://www.southbeds.gov.uk/ which will give his/her address, e-mail address and telephone no. Or contact South Bedfordshire District Council direct by telephoning (01582) 472222
Contact Mark Saccoccio at South Bedfordshire District Council e-mail mark.saccoccio@southbeds.gov.uk Telephone: (01582) 472222 Tell him you wish to be consulted and have a formal opportunity to comment at every stage on the Housing Growth issues at Leighton Linslade, and would he please add your details to the Councils database of people to be contacted directly.
We look forward to hearing from you soon, and are ready to address any questions you may have.
