Grogan faces eco-town pressure

9:09am Thursday 5th June 2008

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SELBY MP John Grogan is under pressure from campaigners to help settle a row over where to build a planned eco-town.

Selby District councillors, John and Mary McCartney want MP John Grogan to lobby the Government after consultants named Gascoigne Wood mine as their preferred site for a possible eco-town near Selby.

A report by consultants GVA Grimley rules out another three sites earmarked for the "environmentally-friendly" new town at Burn Airfield, Church Fenton, and a site dubbed Willow Green, near Kellington, Eggborough and Beal.

Coun John McCarthy, who is leading the campaign against the proposed Willow Green eco-town, now wants Mr Grogan to ask GMI, the Willow Green developers, to withdraw its bid.

Coun McCarthy said that until, either the Government announces it has rejected a site at Willow Green or GMI formally withdraws its bid, the matter will not be settled.

He said: "Our member of parliament, John Grogan, has said that if the consultants came up with a site that was not Willow Green, then he would call upon GMI to withdraw its bid.

"It is time he backed his constituents in Beal Eggborough and Kellington."

The leaders of the various councils that make up the Leeds City Region will meet on June 12, in Harrogate, to discuss the report and to decide if they will put the Gascoigne Wood site forward to the Government.

Coun McCartney said he wants constituents to contact Mr Grogan at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or email him at GroganJ@parliament.uk Selby's MP, John Grogan, is on record as welcoming an eco-town for the Selby area.

Last week, The Press reported the leader of Selby District Council, Mark Crane, issued a stark warning that Selby "would die" if the eco-town went ahead.

Coun Crane was speaking at a packed village meeting at Burn Gliding Club, which would be demolished to make way for a new town of at least 5,000 homes.

Coun Crane has said he will ask fellow council leaders to oppose all sites when the city region leaders meet next week.