(From Cllrs Rod Jones and Karrar Khan - Musters Ward)

We are Disappointed:
· at the loss of hillside landscape and the last bit of fertile
agricultural greenbelt land inside the A52; at the damaging effects of
wildlife.
· at the effects on local residents for the extra traffic, noise
and congestion.
· because the Liberal Democrats fully supported local residents and
actively opposed at every stage the plans to build on Sharphill. The
Inspector has not listened to local residents.
· because the Government's plans press too much housing on our
Greenbelt.

Without the many residents who have put time into the opposition, the
plans would have been much worse. The Community Park and money to maintain
it, the greater gap between the houses and the wood and the greater
infrastructure, are unlikely to have happened without the fight.

Local People feel Betrayed

. Rushcliffe Council had a vested interest in this deal. It once
owned part of the land but sold it to the applicant. It signed a contract
with the landowner so that a substantial portion of the profits from the
land go to the Council.
· The Rushcliffe Conservative group originally supported building
on Sharphill. They had no alternative plan B. Local Conservative
Councillors who opposed the plans did so when it was too late to have any
impact. It suits them to be forced to into this.
· The RBC recent opposition in the Planning Inquiry was half
hearted; the County Council and the Highways Agency decided not to present
any opposition.

There are lots of Questions ahead. We want to know:
· What will the Conservative Leadership of RBC do with the
estimated £40 million from the land sale?
· Will the Conservatives give a commitment that this land sale
money will be spent for the benefit of local people on whom the impact of
this building will fall: mainly in West Bridgford and to some extent
Ruddington and Keyworth?

Cllrs Rod Jones and Karrar Khan
Lib Dem Councillors for Musters Ward
in Rushcliffe Borough