Action Group Blog

We are now in the second "consultation" phase of the government's "Eco?" Town process. Now, more than ever, is the time for you to have your say!

In a recent email and blog entry, Nadine Dorries, our local MP, called on all her constituents to act in opposition to the "Eco?" Town. You can read her original blog entry here: http://blog.dorries.org/Blog.aspx?Y=2009&M=Jan&d=29#29

This is the time for you to stand up and make your views known. Please visit the government's "Eco?" Town consultation page here: http://ecotownsyoursay.direct.gov.uk/have-your-say/give-your-feedback/

It only takes a few minutes to fill in the form - please take that time to save our green spaces.

Thanks.

The DCLG (Dept . Communities and Local Govt) are sneakily holding a series of public meetings on ECO-Towns this weekend. These were arranged with only 8 days notice and notfication has been sent only to the Parish Council.

WE NEED YOU TO JOIN IN OUR PROTEST AT 2:30PM ON SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER AT THE FOREST CENTRE, MARSTON MORETAINE

Please join the action groups and Nadine Dorries, MP to show the Government that the eco-town is not welcome in the Marston Vale.

Your opinion counts! please come along and show your opposition.

See the e-mail from DCLG below:

I wish to make you aware that as part of our Stage 2 consultation on eco-town standards, we intend to host public roadshows on eco-towns and those in your area are scheduled for:

Friday 7 and Saturday 8 November in the Forest Centre, Marston from 0900 -1600; and

Saturday 8 November at the Howard Centre, Bedford from 0900 - 1800.

These exhibitions are part of a national programme and are focused on eco-town standards and the eco-town programme and are not about the detail of individual eco-town proposals. It is important that people take part and give us their views on eco-towns standards and principles, whether or not they support the local proposed scheme. Please take the opportunity to inform your parishioners of this forthcoming event.

Details of scheme proposals will be for the scheme promoters themselves to address but I will be able to explain the national programme and the setting of minimum eco-town standards along with the selection process that the government is taking to identify potential eco-town locations as well as the next steps in terms of planning applications for any particular schemes.

Above all, however, we want to encourage genuine public comment and engagement in shaping proposals on both a national as well on a local level, including the proposed eco-town location at Marston Vale. I also want to reassure and put right any misinformation about the selection of potential sites and the subsequent planning process.

We are keen to encourage Parish Councils, local organisations and residents to engage fully in consultation. We appreciate the important contribution that they can make to the debate about the development of eco-town proposals and we want to encourage people to have their say and put their views forward - both in respect of the setting of exemplary, minimum high standards for eco-towns which we will be consulting on , as well as individual scheme promoters' proposals.

As we touched upon during our telephone conversation I would be grateful of you would channel to me any queries or questions raised with you by your parishioners or by local organisations and residents in your area.

I hope you find this helpful.
I look forward to working with you.
Denis Spooner
Eco-towns Communications Team
Communities and Local Government
Telephone 020 7944 3635

Please telephone or e-mail Mr Spooner with your comments. He can be contacted on Denis.Spooner@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Don't let urban living be forced on the village - please take direct action!

If you need help drafting a letter or assistance with transport to the Forest Centre call Beki on 01525 402361

WHAT A FANTASTIC NIGHT!

Thank you to the hordes of people that joined the Lidlington and Marston Moretaine Action groups last night for our torch lit protest march!

Hundreds of you joined the Action groups and Nadine Dorries, our local MP to make sure our voice was heard, and heard it most certainly was by the representatives of O & H sheltering in the Village Hall!

O & H can no longer be in any doubt that the residents of the Marston Vale do not want the Eco-Town.

Thank you to Nadine, the local police force for their fantastic support of the event and to the BBC and Anglia News crews that were in the village all day to broadcast our fight to the Region.

Protesters start to gather

The BBC team editing in one of the village pubs

You're never too young to protest!

On Wednesday 24th September at precisely 8pm, Lidlington Action group joined other protest groups nationwide in a chain of activity stretching across the country.

Exactly a year - to the day - since Gordon Brown announced he was increasing the number of proposed new towns to 10, bonfires were lit, BBQ's started and fireworks detonated across England.

In Lidlington, members of the Action Group lit a bonfire and at 8pm detonated huge fireworks from a high vantage spot.

The message is clear. The fight continues to safeguard this (usually!) quiet rural community.

SKIES LIGHT UP NATIONWIDE TO HIGHLIGHT ECO-TOWN PROTEST

Four days after a successful local protest march and exactly one year after Gordon Brown decided to increase the number of new ‘Eco’ towns to 10, the action groups nationwide are uniting to create a chain of beacons, bonfires and fireworks.

In line with other anti Eco-Town Action groups the villagers of the Marston Vale will briefly light up the skies over their normally quiet villages.

The Lidlington Action Group has been refused permission to light a beacon on the farmland which surrounds the village. However the great British spirit lives on in this unpretentious village where ordinary people will be setting off fireworks at exactly 8pm to show that the fight against this threat to the English countryside continues.

Ends.

The sun shone and the people marched!

Members of the Lidlington Action group and Lidlington villagers came out in force to join with Marston and Brogborough on a protest march on Saturday 20th September.

Nearly 700 people marched along a 2 mile route that included a section of the A421 where traffic had been temporarily halted. Yes the traffic built up and progress was slow but this was somehow appropriate for a march designed to stop up to 30,000 vehicles being added to the Vale.

Well done MMETAG for superb organisation and well done to all for bothering to stand up and be counted!

The following documents were submitted to the Minister For Housing, Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP, on Monday 30th June at the Houses of Parliament.

They outline the group's formal response to the varying and conflicting proposals for "Eco?" Towns in the Marston Vale.

As you will see, four submissions have had to be created due to the confusing nature of the bids.

Well Done Everyone.

This is just a quick update for you on how things went yesterday at the Eco Town Protest in London. Firstly thank you to those that were able to attend, waving banners, chanting and giving interviews.

The Protest went well, the Press and TV (BBC, ITV, SKY, etc) were all there, we all worked hard holding up our banners and chanting loudly, there was a lot of attention and support from the various MPs who's areas are effected, Nadine Dorries was there supporting our campaign.

We then went into the Houses of Parliment to attend a Lobbying session in the Lobby Room 14, all very grand, and well attend by supporting MPs, again Nadine Dorries was present on the members table and spoke in support of our campaign.

We were able to hand our petition in to No 10 Downing Street, thanks to another group helping us.

We then attend a Private Meeting with the Rt Hon Caroline Flint, with two members from each group, we had a full hour with her and discussed the key issues, Caroline said she would write personal to our Chairman (Iain Clapham) on a particular issue of concern to our Eco Town Proposal.

So, all in all, a good days work by the team, WELL DONE.