Names of speakers revealed for battle
Organisers of a public meeting over controversial plans to build 8,000 extra homes around Lichfield have announced their programme of speakers.
Organisers of a public meeting over controversial plans to build 8,000 extra homes around Lichfield have announced their programme of speakers.
The meeting, which starts at 10am on Saturday at the Guildhall, on Bore Street, aims to inform people about the proposals for extra homes in Lichfield District Council's local development framework which is currently under public consultation. Eight different residents' groups have been formed as a result of the proposals.
Residents say the proposal threaten the Green Belt around the city and have now pooled their resources to form the Alliance.
Among the controversial draft proposals are 750 homes on land to the south and south east of Burntwood, up to 1,650 houses for green field land to the south of Lichfield and around 850 homes have been proposed for an open field in Streethay which would see the village more than quadruple in size.
The event's programme includes a presentation by a senior lecturer in town planning at Birmingham City University as well as a talk by a Lichfield District Council planning officer. Residents from around Lichfield and Burntwood will be able to pose their questions and all the councillors from the district council have been invited personally to attend.
John Horton, chairman of the South Lichfield Residents' Group, said: "This public meeting at the Guildhall is an attempt to raise public awareness of the proposals and the serious threat to the Green Belt around Lichfield and Burntwood areas.
"The event is promoted by the Alliance of residents groups, all of whom have this problem in common. Residents should not be apathetic, once the green belt is lost, it is lost for ever.
"The public consultation is still ongoing and there is time and opportunity for the councillors to have a change of heart and direct their officers to scale down the proposals to a realistic level."
The consultation period ends on June 11. Residents can comment on-line on the Lichfield District Council website at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk or at developmentplans@lichafielddc.gov.uk or by calling 01543 308192.
