Town the size of Clevedon to be bolted onto Weston

2.29.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Sep 2008

Residents of Weston-super-Mare have just a few weeks to have their say on plans that will see 12,000 new homes built in the town.

Under proposals in the Regional Spatial Strategy - the Labour Government's home building and development blueprint for the South West - the number of homes in Weston will increase by more than a third.

Despite objections from North Somerset Council and campaign groups across the region, the Government seems intent on pushing the plans through. The final round of public consultation on the plans ends at 5pm on 24 October 2008.

Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Weston-super-Mare, is urging residents to take a final chance to have their say.

"It is hard to imagine, but the Labour Government wants to effectively bolt a town the size of Clevedon onto the side of Weston and massively increase the number of people living here," said Mike.

"Weston already suffers from a lack of jobs and inadequate facilities like parking, transport links and essential services like health centres and schools. We in Weston already know to our cost that Government promises that jobs will be created and facilities improved are often totally empty ones.

"Thousands of homes have and are being built in Weston already, but our infrastructure has barely changed and thousands are forced to commute out of town every day. I am against these Government plans because they are simply unrealistic and will change the face of Weston forever.

"There has been consultation after consultation but the politicians in London have just not listened to us. Now Weston residents must take the chance to have a final say. I urge anyone who is concerned about the prospect of 12,000 new homes in Weston to respond to the consultation and send a clear message to the Government: think again."

Information about the plans can be found at the consultation website: http://gosw.limehouse.co.uk/portal

Comments can be sent to: Regional Planning Team, Government Office for the South West, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6ED or by email to: rssconsult@gosw.gsi.gov.uk