The fight to protect 56-hectares of green belt in a Shropshire village has received cross-party political support in the run-up to the General Election in July.
All six candidates contesting The Wrekin constituency have thrown their support behind the Albrighton Village Action Group (AVAG) and its campaign to fight the
development being proposed by Boningale Homes. Mark Pritchard (Conservative), Roh Yakobi (Labour), Anthony Lowe (Liberal Democrats), Richard Nicholas Leppington (Reform UK), Pat McCarthy (Green Party) and Chris Shipley (Independent) have all voiced concerns about the outrageous green belt grab that will increase the historic village of Albrighton by nearly 62%.
AVAG, which is set-up and run by a group of local volunteers, believes this unanimous support has come at the ideal time, with the planning application expected to be released on the Shropshire Council planning website for the public to raise their objections in the coming weeks. More than 3600 people have signed the petition against the Boningale development to date, with 300 attending a sold-out public meeting and more than 100 residents writing to support the Shropshire Local Plan – a key strategy that sets out allocated housing development land and protects green spaces in the county.
“We are about to enter a really critical phase with the official planning application now submitted, so it is reassuring to see unanimous political opposition against the Boningale Homes proposal,” explained Claire Lakin, spokesperson for the Albrighton Village Action Group.
“This is a development that will destroy 56 hectares of precious green belt forever, increase traffic levels massively, put even greater strain on stretched local services and, ultimately, turn our village into a town.” She went on to add: “Local people have already voiced their opinion in rejecting this scheme by signing the petition and attending the public meeting, but now is the time for concerned residents to make their voices heard even louder.
“When the official planning application is released for public comment, we’ll need everyone who is against it to submit an objection and we will be running drop-in sessions to help people do this.” AVAG has enlisted legal support to help it oppose Boningale Homes proposals and has launched a fundraising rallying cry to generate up to £20,000.
More than £6,300 has already been pledged and a series of fundraisers are due to be announced to boost this total, including some special events at the Village Fayre on July 13th. Donations are urgently needed and can be made at albrightongreenbelt.co.uk
The Wrekin constituency in the General Election 2024 - all in support of saving Albrighton’s green spaces. Mark Pritchard (Conservative) said: “The scale and siting of this proposed development is completely inappropriate.
“Albrighton’s green belt is precious, it must be protected, and I will fight these developer-led proposals all the way. They are not in the Shropshire Local Plan and should be refused.”
The Green Party’s Pat McCarthy said: “Rest assured that the Green party supports your campaign. Each area’s local plan will set viability levels for development and there will be no subsequent negotiation with developers.
“And Greens will take back the power of building control from developers and invest in publicly accountable building inspectors and building control officers.” Independent’s Chris Shipley added: “I’m against it, as we should look to develop brownfield sites first.
“Green Belt should be the last option. I think your (AVAG) actions are commendable and I'd like to discuss the challenges you are facing and to hear how a future candidate might further support you.”
The Labour Party’s Roh Yakobi: “In my opinion the attempt by Boningale Homes to build on good farm quality land in the green belt near Albrighton should not be included in the Local Plan for Shropshire.” Anthony Lowe, of the Liberal Democrats added: “This latest Boningale scheme is outside the Shropshire Local Plan and would dwarf the existing village of Albrighton and for whom?
“For Black Country residents who wish to move to Albrighton! No thank you! I am not surprised that existing residents are in uproar, and I fully support them in their endeavours to squash this speculative scheme".
Richard Nicholas Leppington of Reform UK went on to say: “I can confirm that I am opposed to the proposed Boningale Homes development in Albrighton. I am horrified at the scale of envisaged housebuilding throughout the entire Wrekin constituency.”
