Michael Fabricant with protestors outside Parliament
Michael Fabricant with protestors outside Parliament

Lichfield MP, Michael Fabricant has said he is relieved that Curborough was not mentioned among the first four eco-towns announce by the Government.

John Healey, Minister of State for Housing and Planning has announce today (16th July) that four ‘pioneering’ eco-towns will be built across the country. The locations are Whitehill-Bordon, St Austell (Clay Country), Rackheath (Norwich) and North West Bicester, leaving out the proposed Curborough location.

Mr Fabricant had joined many local residents to campaign against the building of the eco-town. He said, “I strongly opposed the construction of the eco-town at Curborough and Fradley and the current ‘non-eco town’ application for 5,000 homes to be built there is even more inappropriate.

“I am relieved, however, that the Government has not attempted to re-impose their plans for an eco town in Fradley.  A 5,000 home development between Lichfield and Fradley would put impossible strains on our roads, schools, and health service as well as destroying the countryside to the east of Lichfield.”

Curborough was originally identified as a site when it was suggested that 90% of the new homes could be built on the old Fradley aerodrome. This statement was challenged by Fabricant who said that 50% was to be built on Greenfield farmland. A formal apology was subsequently issued by the then housing minister.

It is not yet clear if Curborough will still face the prospect of an eco-town as the four announced today are to be the first eco-towns and it’s possible that more could be in the pipeline.

Michael Fabricant talking to the media with protestors
Michael Fabricant talking to the media with protestors
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Richard Holloway
14 years ago

Fradley Against Curborough Town (FACT) who have campaigned tirelessly and were instrumental in the Governments decision to remove Fradley from the ECO Town List, share the relief of our local MP, Michael Fabricant and we thank him for listening to his constituents and taking our fight to Parliament. This is a great victory for all those who campaigned vigorously over the past year, but we all need to be mindful that the Curborough Consortium are still pursuing 5000 houses, with the same proposals but a different label – you would have thought they would have learnt by now that these proposals are unsustainable and clearly not wanted.