Eco-towns could be forced through
Conservatives say that the Planning Bill, passed by the Commons last week, could be used to push through plans for the infrstructure necessary for the eco-towns - in other words, new roads and water pipes.
Around 300 eco-town protesters gathered outside Parliament yesterday and handed a petition with 60,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street.
Eco-town planning will be the responsibitlity of the new Homes and Communities Agency.
Grant Shapps, the shadow Communities and Local Government secretary, said: 'Labour will use the cover of the planning bill to impose eco-towns on local residents and an unelected quango will be able to force infrastructure decisions on everything from road building to water and sewage.'
A Department for Communities and the Regions spokesman said: 'As we have made consistently clear throughout, schemes that make the final shortlist will then have to submit a planning application to the local authority and will be judged through the proper planning process.'
The Planning Bill may mean, however, that eco-towns could be forced through, despite the Tories' decision to axe them if the next general election was a Tory victory.
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