The fight to save Kingswood's Green Belt goes on despite today's setback, says MP

The Government's decision to axe Labour's controversial housing targets has been ruled unlawful in the High Court today - but Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore has vowed to continue the fight to protect the area's green belt.

Developer Cala Homes successfully challenged Communites Secretary Eric Pickles’ decision to scrap the regional spatial strategies. The developer claimed he acted unlawfully when he abolished the RSS in England because he did not provide any alternative legislation.

The South West RSS intended 32,800 new houses for South Gloucestershire - 10,000 on the Kingswood Green Belt around Warmley, Siston, Oldland Common, Mangotsfield, Longwell Green and Bitton.

Developers have tried, so far unsuccessfully, to get planning permission for new homes in Oldland, Longwell Green and Mangotsfield.

Mr Pickles wrote to council planning chiefs about his plans to scrap the RSS in July and Conservative MP Mr Skidmore spoke out in Parliament last month, asking when the RSS would be fully abolished. A new Localism Bill is due to be introduced later this month which Mr Skidmore said he hoped would see the RSS "finally buried".

Today Mr Skidmore called the High Court ruling "extremely disappointing".

He said: "It will continue to allow the previous government’s plans to threaten our countryside. But this does not change mine and the Government’s commitment to scrapping Labour’s disastrous plans to bulldozed over the Kingswood green belt

 "Locally and nationally Conservatives are committed to protecting the green belt from inappropriate development.

"As the local MP I have been fighting hard to defend the Kingswood green belt from Oldland Common and Longwell Green to Mangotsfield. As the Longwell Green application goes to appeal, I will be there, along with hundreds of local residents, determined not to let this application get passed. 

"To make sure the Green Belt is protected for future generations the Government will be introducing legislation into Parliament to finally put an end to Labour’s attack on the countryside.”