National Stadium in the Green Belt
As you may be aware there are plans to bring the National Football Stadium to
the West Midlands Green Belt. These were launched officially on Friday 31st August
by Birmingham and Solihull Councils in both Birmingham and London. A report has
been prepared by Patrick Carter detailing the possible locations the National
Football Stadium. At present, there are three contenders: Birmingham, Coventry
and Wembley. The latter two are brownfield developments while the Birmingham
bid is for a Green Belt site on the eastern side of the M42 motorway in what
is locally known as the Meriden Gap.
West Midlands FOE is urging people from all over the country to defend the Green
Belt principle. The Meriden Gap is under threat not only from a soccer ground
but also a Motorway Service Area, a technology corridor, the widening of the
M42, an ever expanding airport, and rapidly increasing demand for housing, leisure
facilities and business parks. Once the eastern side of the M42 is breached the
developers will declare open season on the Meriden Gap and the inevitable coalescence
of Coventry and the West Midlands will begin. It is essential that we defend
the Green Belt of the West Midlands. We welcome the work to bring the stadium
to the City but deplore the choice of a Green Belt site. The national Stadium
web site can be accessed at http://www.thenationalstadium.net/ main.asp and
is open to receive your views, so take the opportunity to contribute to this
important debate. The ministers involved in making this decision are Tessa Jowell,
Jack Straw and Stephen Byers and (as ever) Tony Blair has his eye on the reputation
of his administration of the country. Please express your concerns to these decision
makers. They can all be contacted via House of Commons, London, SW1 1AA.
Chris Crean WMFOE