Posted on 06/29/2008 9:46:43 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
The Government should scrap its controversial eco-town proposals as many of the shortlisted schemes are conventional developments which do not offer sustainable living, campaigners have warned.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said ministers should "go back to the drawing board" because there was a "worrying lack of evidence" that the new developments could be developed to the best green standards.
Hundreds of protesters against the developments will meet in Westminister today (MON) to lobby ministers about the plans, representing one of the fastest-growing grass roots protests of recent times.
The Government will pick 10 locations from a shortlist of 15 for the new towns, each of which will comprise thousands of homes.
The Conservatives, which have until now supported the the eco-town plan in principle, are now opposed.
Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, said: "Eco-towns are now dead and buried. Whilst we have supported the principles underpinning them, it is becoming clear just how poorly thought through and unworkable the whole scheme is. At no point will they meet their twin objectives of being environmentally friendly and tackling the housing shortage. From start to finish eco-towns have been mired in spin not substance.
"Caroline Flint has already backtracked on her initial pledge to build 10 eco-towns now saying "up to" 10 eco towns will be built. This is a clear admission that she's believes the eco-town project is fundamentally flawed. She and Gordon Brown need to wake-up and realise the game is up."
In a bid to win over sceptics, ministers will announce today [mon] plans for a major PR drive to convince people of the merits of the towns.
A roadshow will visit each of the 15 proposed sites to demonstrate the benefits of the schemes.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Soon, we'll have the Campaign for Rural America Protection
This Eco-(fill in the blank) is degenerating into a mental disorder.
“Where am I?”
“In The Village.”
“What do you want?”
“Information.”
“Which side are you on?”
“That would be telling. We want information, information, information...”
“You won’t get it.”
“By hook or by crook we will.”
“Who are you?”
“The new Number Two.”
“Who is Number One?”
“You are Number Six.”
“I am not a number. I am a free man!”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha....”
I'm always grateful for the stories like this that come from across the sea. However screwed-up I may think things are here sometimes, at least the U.S. government isn't planning to try to goad people into 'eco-towns'. (yet...)
UK has greenbelt laws like Oregon.
With the housing market in the tank in UK and huge limitations on real estate development, the Labour-Socialist government has proposed to open the few areas available to government developed, mandated green towns with populations of thousands.
There are already proposals that would limit, by fees, anyone taking a vehicle out of eco-towns.
yitbos
Not that I rejoice at anyone else's misguided good intentions (also known as paving stones for a certain road) but that's beside the point...this kind of story should serve as a reminder of what could happen here if the U.S. government is handed over to the wrong people.
Not to disparage one party and laud the other (LOL!)...but Congress is a real mess, and ridiculous (not to mention nasty) with some of these "committee hearings", subpoenas, etc....what's the point??! Valerie Plame? Cover glamour girl on Vanity Fair? Let's all read the National Enquirer while WSJ is reporting on developments in Pakistan/Afghanistan...
Make no mistake...we're at risk of being goaded into "eco-towns" too...that's just what some political candidates think passes as "leadership" to deal with energy shortages. They will pass some laws and mandates, and we the citizenry won't have to worry about high gas prices, supply, or air pollution...certain politicians always have the solution!
Of course, all politicians always have all the solutions to everything, tailored to what audience they're talking to, but that can't be helped right now, alas. Too bad we have the choice we have for November, but I think the "no to eco-towns" candidate is clear, and that's my vote despite all, since the alternative is so extremely problematical (IMHO)...
Ya think?
But these projects have always been about feeling superior more than anything, so it hardly matters to the people who want them.
bttt
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