HUNDREDS of residents descended upon a local church to fight tosave the Outwoods amid fears that it will be used as a building sitefor new homes.
Holywell Free Church, in Berkeley Road, was packed withdisgruntled and passionate residents who cast their votes to savewhat they called a precious piece of countryside.
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HUNDREDS of residents descended upon a local church to fight tosave the Outwoods amid fears that it will be used as a building sitefor new homes.
Holywell Free Church, in Berkeley Road, was packed withdisgruntled and passionate residents who cast their votes to savewhat they called a precious piece of countryside.
More than pounds 1m of taxpayers' money was spent on consultancyfees and consultation papers as part of the former Government'splans for new homes in the borough.
Outwoods was identified as a site by Smith Stuart Reynolds onbehalf of Fox Strategic Land and Property, that could accommodatehomes to meet the growing population, including 5,000 homes in theOutwoods and Woodthorpe.
It was included in the area's Local Development Framework planalong with other controversial sites such as Garendon Park.
But under the new Localism Bill, a new consultation process hasbeen put in place and this week's Area Forum was aimed at givingresidents the chance to cast their votes on green spaces they wishto protect.
More than 250 people arrived at the venue - with scores queuingat the door for a place.
Charnwood planning officer Richard Bennett, said the Office forNational Statistics had stated that to support the growingpopulation in Charnwood 15,000 new homes needed to be built before2028.
He told a jam-packed room "the need for housing is not actuallydropping but increasing."
However, residents made their feelings extremely vocal - witharound 30 people standing to have their say.
Roger Chapman, of Coniston Crescent, said: "All these things youare putting forward is old evidence."
He argued that the council should be looking at whether peoplecould afford new homes.
His comments were met with applause as were comments aboutflooding issues and looking at brownfield sites to build homesrather than open countryside.
Ron Lockwood, chairman of South West Action Group, said: "TheOutwoods are heavily used by walkers and runners, by the permanentpopulation and students."
He added that Olympic medal winner Seb Coe and world championPaula Ratcliffe had trained there. "It is valued for thetranquillity and calm that it brings to people from their dailystress."
Concerns were raised about the future of Loughborough by MatthewFrost of Valley Road if every development in the town was turneddown.
He said: "If all you say is no, no, no, this community willwither. No-one will bring industry here, because they cannot affordto live here."
When asked by council representatives, how many people wereagainst building on the Outwoods, the whole room raised their hands,as well as a handful of students led by president of the Students'Union Lucy Hopkins. - For those who were unable to make their viewsknown at the meeting, residents can log onto http://www.lsr-online.org/greenspaces/Residents without access to the internetshould can contact the Better Places Team at Leicestershire CountyCouncil, for more information.
Hundreds turn out to give Outwoods plan a big 'no'
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