Protest over eco-town plans

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

About 500 protesters waving placards including "Down with the eco-town" and "Stop the Co-op eco-town" attended the rally in Stoughton, Leicestershire.

The village and surrounding area is on a list of about 50 sites that have been ear-marked by developers as possible locations for one of the Government's new eco-towns. It is expected that the Government will cut down the number of sites to a shortlist of 18 next week.

The Co-op owns about 4,500 acres of farmland around Stoughton and there are plans to build about 15,000 homes on part of the land in a development which campaigners say would dramatically alter their community.

Edward Garnier, the Conservative MP for Harborough, said: "This site creates a very easy deal for the Government because it only has to deal with one landlord whereas with other sites it will have to deal with several different land-owners.

"The reason why (Saturday's) demonstration was important is that we are trying to bring to national attention the complete idiocy of this proposal. It will not only damage rural Leicestershire but Leicester. There won't be the roads, the nearest motorway is 30 miles away. The whole thing is a disaster."

A final decision on the locations of the eco-towns is expected in the summer.

The idea behind them is that they are environmentally friendly, with public transport links and energy efficient homes.

Kevin Feltham is chairman of the campaign group Campaign Against Stoughton Co-op Eco-Town and a county councillor for Leicestershire. He said: "(The) rally was very successful. They have got to realise that people aren't very happy about it. They will have to build a huge amount of stuff and even if they build the roads to the city, the county council estimates it would cost hundreds of millions of pounds to build access to the M1."

He added: "This is just the wrong place. The impact on the community would be devastating. I am sure there are plenty of brownfield sites that would be fine. This isn't just one or two people saying 'not in our back-yard' - all our MPs, the city council and the county council agree."