Campaign calls for support to protect Linslade greenbelt from development
Councillors and residents are urging people to have their say as greenbelt land west of Linslade has been suggested for potential development.
The 149-hectare site has been included in the Call For Sites for Central Bedfordshire Council's (CBC’s) Local Plan – with a consultation in progress about whether it should be included.
The land covers both sides of Wing Road, stretching towards the bypass, including the fields above the former Stud Farm, and countryside extending towards Soulbury Road.
But many residents were not pleased to see the land included – and a website called The Future of Linslade has been set up to encourage people to raise their concerns.
Emily Shenton, project co-ordinator, said: "We wanted to put this on people's radars so they are able to respond and exercise what I believe to be their democratic right."
The Future of Linslade website includes a link to the consultation, along with tips for how to respond to it, covering topics like landscape, wildlife, flood risk and recreation.
Emily added: "This is where people go for physical and mental wellbeing. There are muntjacs, owls, bats.
"I'm not sure anyone would be able to get in and out via Wing Road, it's a major crossing for school children, commuter trains are overcrowded – and there are new homes proposed for Wing, too."
Southcott town councillors James Emm, Joe Symes and Nigel Carnell, alongside campaigners Jo Latham and Peter Snelling, are encouraging residents to take part before the consultation closes on August 17 – and are supporting the Future of Linslade campaign.
Cllr James Emm said: "The countryside around Southcott Village is a cherished part of our community.
“It provides important green space for residents, supports local wildlife and helps maintain the distinct character of Linslade. We must work together to protect it."
The Central Bedfordshire councillors for the area are also against its inclusion.
Cllr Steve Owen (Leighton-Linslade West) said: "Certainly I and my co-ward members, councillor Russ Goodchild and councillor Victoria Harvey are all opposed to that particular development. It’s got a historical background. Southcott Stud was the Rothschild’s facility for horses.
"Linslade has seen two big housing developments – Bideford Green and Knaves Hill – and between them, the two developments tripled the size of Linslade.
"Any development would put increasing pressure on infrastructure – schools, health services, the dangers of increased traffic."
Cllr Owen claimed that the A505 bypass has been subject to subsidence and that it was "inadequate to carry the traffic that it's asked to carry now".
He added: "The inner through road that comes over the canal – Leighton Road – and West Street is already at a standstill quite a lot of the time and these [potential] homes would worsen that."
Councillor Victoria Harvey (Leighton-Linslade West) claimed: "If this area is badly managed, there will be increased flooding down Southcott village.
"Water will come into the River Ouzel, Clipstone Brook, and end up flooding Vimy Road.
"A huge amount of water would come down to the river at its most crowded point. It could be a recipe for disaster."
Cllr Adam Zerny, leader of CBC, said no decisions had been made and it was important for people to have their say.
He said: “Residents' local knowledge is an important part of the assessment process and will be considered alongside technical evidence and national planning policy.”
A CBC spokeswoman added: “The purpose of the current consultation is to gather views on all submitted sites before any decisions are made.
"All sites will be assessed against a wide range of planning considerations, including environmental impacts, transport, access to infrastructure, landscape, heritage, flood risk and national planning policy, alongside the views received through the consultation.”