CAMPAIGNERS will meet tonight to discuss immediate action to prevent thousands of homes being built on ‘treasured’ former green belt land in Coventry.
They will discuss major projects in Keresley, Eastern Green and Kings Hill on the rural fringes of the city.
Residents – many part of the Keep Our Green Belt Green campaign – will convene at the Hare and Hounds Pub in Watery Lane, Keresley, from 7pm tonight (March 12).
The sites earmarked for housebuilding were protected green belt land but have now been declassified in Coventry City Council’s Local Plan, which claims to outline a need for 42,400 homes to be built in and around the city by 2031.
Prominent campaigners say a planning lawyer will closely analyse the case against the major developments.
Campaigner and ex-prospective councillor Merle Gering will deliver a presentation on his expert-backed research claiming to refute the city’s projected population explosion and therefore the need for mass housebuilding.
Campaigners are calling for the land to be returned to the green belt due to concerns about increased air quality, traffic, loss of wildlife and strain on the NHS and local services – which will be discussed at the meeting.
It will also give residents a chance to respond to the housing plans in Keresley and Eastern Green, with comments being sent to the council.
It will also launch an ‘action campaign’ seeking volunteers and social media coverage to boost the profile of the movement.
The group are seeking future representatives at local elections and want councillors to join the campaign.
They also want to increase pressure on MPs to step in and prevent the loss of the green belt.
The group vehemently opposes the plans for 3,100 homes to be built across Keresley as well as plans for 3,495 homes in Eastern Green, with numbers continuing to grow and further developments being planned.
One of the campaigners Peter Maddock says: “The population projections have been called into question with factual evidence backed by university professors.
“The highways plans across Coventry are being challenged by Highways England.
“There are major air quality problems in Coventry, and as yet there are no timed and costed plans to address the problems.
“The hospital has stated clearly that it does not have the capacity needed for the extra people that would need services and the Environment agency has concerns about possible flooding.”
