BASE HEADER

I wish to make an objection to the New Local Plan to build on greenbelt land on the under mentioned grounds:

1. Greenbelt land was so designated to preserve parts of the countryside around towns and it is wrong for local authorities to allow building on such land without demonstrating an exceptional case. Whilst the New Local Plan tries to justify the Council's proposal, it does not demonstrate exceptional circumstances. We need to see much more compelling evidence for ignoring available land which is not greenbelt.

2. The evidence given so far strongly suggests a "political" influence which is not what planning should be about. The people of this District did not vote for a Council that would put political expedience before existing planning guidance which is there for the benefit of everybody.

3. There is nothing in the National Planning Policy Framework to support such political decisions, so the District Council should abide by the principles of the NPPF and rely only on planning principles, which include greenbelt protection.

4. Indeed, greenbelt protection is to prevent urban sprawl which is precisely what this New Local Plan proposes.