RESIDENTS' CONCERNS SHRUGGED OFF AT SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

12.38.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Apr 2003

A 5 hour meeting of last night's Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee left unscathed contentious plans to de-designate Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) sites because Tory Councillors voted en bloc against pleas from residents, Liberal Democrats and non-voting independent Members.

Most time was spent on proposals for Heathfield Recreation Ground and the Crane Valley. At Heathfield a large plot of land is to lose MOL protection because there is a chance that it will be required for a new secondary school.

Said Cllr Martin Elengorn " The proposal was half-baked as Councillor Samuel made clear that the School may be built elsewhere and even if it is built in Powder Mill Lane the MOL plot may or may not be built on. But once the protection is removed it is unlikely to be restored"

The Crane Valley Proposals are even more contentious. It is proposed that MOL status be removed from a number of open sites between the railway junction and Kneller Gardens thus breaking the green chain in two.

Said Cllr Martin Elengorn "The Tories are quite unclear whether these sites will be developed for housing or what but they want to remove protection so all options are open. These sites are most important, forming a continuous strip of green with great benefits for wild life."

"Bizarrely the Tories last month commissioned a Crane Valley Masterplan which these decisions prejudge. However all these irrational proposals were nodded through by Tories desperate to raise funds through sale of these sites."