Tuesday 1st April 2008

Oxfordshire County Council Conservatives

Conservatives defend Oxford's Green Belt

Conservative county councillors today rose to the defence of Oxford’s Green Belt.  They overwhelmingly rejected a Labour motion welcoming a review of the Green Belt. The motion had also praised the role of Oxford City Liberal-Democrat leader, John Goddard, in supporting a review.

The debate underlined the split within the Liberal-Democrats over the issue.  Those who are both city and county councillors abstained rather than criticise their own leader on the city council.  Those representing out-of-town seats voted against their own colleagues.

Liberal-Democrats have long sought to make the Oxford Green Belt a party political issue in what has been a heated debate for the past few years over housing in the county.  Much of this debate has centred round the possibility of a strategic extension to Oxford to the south of Grenoble Road. 

Cllr Roger Belson, the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development said:

“Today’s debate has exposed the myth that the Liberal-Democrats are protecting Oxford’s Green Belt.  I am pleased my Conservative colleagues and I were able successfully to stand up again for our Green Belt.

“We very much regret the desire of the government to undertake a review but it is very clear tremendous succour has been provided for this by the City Council and its Liberal-Democrat Leader.  The villages around Oxford should feel betrayed.”