St Neots woman sets up petition to protect town’s green spaces
St Neots. - Credit: Archant
A St Neots woman has launched a campaign to save the town’s green spaces in the face of what she says is widespread development.
Donna Smith, 35, a graphic designer of Howitt’s Gardens, wants to reach a compromise with the companies behind the Loves Farm eastern expansion and Wintringham Park – both of which have received outline planning permission from Huntingdonshire District Council.
She claims that there has been insufficient consultation with residents about the developments, which she is concerned will bring additional traffic to the already heavily congested A428.
A lack of infrastructure to meet the needs of newcomers, destruction of the countryside, and displacement of wildlife also feature on her list of objections.
Miss Smith is now encouraging residents to sign her petition, which has so far attracted about 150 signatures.
With the advice of the St Neots Area Green Party, she will take her campaign to organisations such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Once signatures reach between the 500 to 1,000 mark, Miss Smith wants to bring her petition to the attention of Huntingdonshire District Council and possibly seek the views of Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly.
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She said: “The issue is that it is unfeasibly large. We are not saying don’t come and build here – people have got to live somewhere.
“I would love to see it stopped but that’s not a realistic target. We are open to suggestions, but it would be nice to reach some sort of compromise to leave enough green belt land there for wildlife.
“Local people should have more of a voice and that’s the crux of my mission.”
The Wintringham Park development will include 2,800 homes, schools, shops, and restaurants, while the plans for the eastern expansion of Loves Farm are for up to 1,020 homes, a primary school, a nursery or crèche, a pub, hotel, and a care home.
INFORMATION: To sign the petition, visit https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/preserve-st-neots-green-belt-land.
