|
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.”
|
