Scroll down to sign the petition today!
Anthony Browne, MP for South Cambridgeshire has started a petition asking the District Council to reject the 25,000 home Thakeham proposal when formulating the next Greater Cambridgeshire Local Plan.
Launched last Thursday as part of a public meeting to discuss local opposition to the proposals, the petition asks that South Cambridgeshire District Council opposes the inclusion of Thakeham’s 25,000 home ‘South West Cambridgeshire’ site in the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.
If the site is not adopted by the Local Plan, a document that offers a blueprint for planning policy in South Cambridgeshire over the next two decades, it becomes much harder for developers to secure planning permission.
The public meeting was attended by local Parish Councils and the South West Cambridgeshire Action Group, with over 300 residents tuning in to watch the meeting live and ask questions. It has since been viewed over 2,000 times through Youtube and Facebook and can be accessed in full via the link above.
Last month, Thakeham confirmed their intention to submit a proposal to the Local Plan after a meeting with Mr Browne, finally ending rumours that they would seek a way to avoid engaging with local planning processes.
This followed campaigning by Mr Browne to ensure the Government was not supporting or planning for another new town in South Cambridgeshire, which has already seen three new towns approved at Cambourne, Northstowe and most recently Waterbeach.
Since his campaign began, the Treasury have eliminated plans for a new town from the Budget and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that they have not undertaken any analysis on proposed new towns in South Cambridgeshire constituency and have no plans to do so.
Mr Browne commented “I have done all I can to ensure the Government does not support this development, but I cannot vote against this development – only District Councillors can do that. But with your support for this petition, I can ensure they hear voice of our community.
“By not including these proposals in the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, South Cambridgeshire District Council can send a strong signal to their residents that they are listening to their residents.
“This is an issue that crosses political divides and parish boundaries. By speaking with one voice, we can put a stop to this development.”
The petition can be signed below.