A CAMBRIDGESHIRE village is fighting back against slurs in a national newspaper which claimed the area was becoming a 21st century slum . Cambourne was attacked by Robin Page in an opinion piece in Saturday s Daily Telegraph when he went on to suggest th

A CAMBRIDGESHIRE village is fighting back against slurs in a national newspaper which claimed the area was becoming a '21st century slum'.

Cambourne was attacked by Robin Page in an opinion piece in Saturday's Daily Telegraph when he went on to suggest the village was known locally as 'Crimebourne'.

Mr Page, a former elected member of South Cambs District Council, launched an attack on Cambourne as part of an article discussing "eco-towns".

He wrote: "One 'sustainable community', Cambourne, lies a few miles away from my village. It is now known locally as Crimebourne. In my view, it is already well on the way to becoming a 21st-century slum."

He adds: "...to judge from the number of for sale signs on view, many of the residents of Cambourne want to leave."

When contacted by The Hunts Post Mr Page, who lives in Barton, said: "I am personally entitled to think it is a dump if I want to. In my view it is a planning disaster.

"Some people like living in a skyscraper, some people like living in a tent, there is no saying what some people like or dislike."

A quick phone call by this newspaper also found the extent of Cambourne's so-called reputation for crime.

According Cambridgeshire police figures there were 16 crimes recorded in April, 24 in May and 21 in June. These were mostly criminal damage and theft.

Mr Page's comments have left a bitter taste in the mouths of Cambourne's residents who have leapt to the defence of their village.

Clayton Hudson, Cambourne resident and chairman of the parish council, told The Hunts Post: "Cambourne is a sound business investment as well as a great place to live.

"The wonderful open spaces coupled with a comparatively small community, a supermarket, bank, chemist, hairdresser, betting shop, dry cleaner as well as pub, a four star hotel and a selection of eating places.

"Additionally we have a library, youth building, skate park, GP surgery, dentist, sport pitches and cricket pavilion (not counting the 20 or so clubs that use these facilities) and a sports centre under construction.

"As for crime, Cambourne as I see it has a low overall level of crime."

Cambourne resident and deputy chairman of the parish council, Cllr Roger Hume, added: "Page is welcome to his views, but if it were true then no one would choose to live here. Many residents have even chosen to move to another house within Cambourne, hardly the action of dissatisfaction."

Resident Nicky Le Blond told The Hunts Post: "I strongly object to the comment about Cambourne becoming a '21st Century slum'. Cambourne has become a great place to live now that we have more facilities, large open spaces and two fantastic schools."

INFORMATION: You can read Mr Page's article on the Telegraph's website.

nWhat's you opinion of Cambourne? E-mail your views to: editor@huntspost.co.uk or write to: Cambourne debate, The Hunts Post, 30 High Street, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3TB.