Prince of Sales: Charles' plans 2000 Green Belt homes

[Zardoz]

Prince Charles blasted over plan for 2,000 homes in Green Belt
By Mail On Sunday Reporter - Last updated at 10:03 PM on 13th February 2010
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250806/Prince-Charles-blasted-plan-2-000-homes-Green-Belt.html
Prince Charles is under fire from two conservation groups he champions over plans to build on Green Belt land and to bulldoze hedges that shelter wildlife.
He has been accused of abandoning his rural credentials after his Duchy of Cornwall estate offered to create 2,000 new homes on rolling pastures just outside the historic city of Bath.
Critics say the Duchy stands to make tens of millions from the development.
The Bath Preservation Trust, of which the Prince is the patron, has written to him urging the Duchy to back 'brownfield' building instead.
The trust's Jane Brown said: 'The proposed development would be an irrevocable change to the setting of the city, it would be a carbuncle and a matter of great regret. I don't know what the Prince knows or doesn't know, but we are surprised the Duchy is so ready to make this land available.'
English Heritage has also objected, along with villagers in Newton St Loe at the centre of the land, many of them Duchy tenants.
Curate the Rev Catherine Sourbut said: 'Are the Duchy's principles really so easily swayed by the huge pay-off they stand to receive? What of the Prince's public agenda on environmental concerns?'
Ron Morton, a campaigner against Green Belt development, said: 'Prince Charles is rapidly becoming the unacceptable face of the Establishment.'
Charles, right, has also been criticised by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust over plans to build a 'green' village of up to 200 homes near Newquay. It fears that hedges will be dug up.
Cheryl Marriott, of the trust, said: 'I'm disappointed they're bulldozing so much of the hedge.'
A Duchy spokeswoman said: 'It is the Government's decision to build more houses in the Bath area.
'As a major landowner, the Duchy has a responsibility to respond to housing needs.
'The plans for Newquay involve very little real loss to hedgerows and new hedgerows will be planted.'



One comment - The area around Newton St Loe is a different matter,its stunning countryside and to build the thousands of houses being talked about would be a disgrace,when there are plenty of other sites around Bath that could and should be used.Check out the area on google earth !!!