Bad news for Stoughton

From this evening's Leicester Mercury:

A controversial plan to build an eco-town on the outskirts of Leicester has been shortlisted by the Government.

Villagers protesting against the scheme say they will fight on to ensure the project, which will see up to 15,000 new homes being built between Stoughton and Great Glen, will not go ahead.

The announcement of 15 preferred towns from a list of 57 was made this morning. Housing minister Caroline Flint would only say which schemes had been chosen, not why they had been chosen.

The area's MP Edward Garnier said: 'She came across as a minister who has no idea about the local conditions. It is an idiotic decision.'

I have had a bad feeling about Stoughton ever since it was announced that the site was being considered. The pally relations between the Co-operative Wholesale Society and the Labour Party and the ignorance of London-based officials and politicians about the beauty of the eastern side of Leicestershire have made me fear the worse.

But the campaign against development at Stoughton goes on. See the CASCET (Campaign Against the Stoughton Co-op Eco Town) website.

Later. Emma Lee has a good posting on this too.