URGENT – WE NEED YOUR HELP – PLEASE WILL YOU EMAIL MICHAEL GOVE, MP?

The Government is considering whether to “recover” the Leverhulme Planning Appeals. This is when the final decision on the appeals is made by the Secretary of State (Michael Gove MP) rather than the appeal planning inspector.

Two of the circumstances when the Secretary of State can consider recovering the appeals is when the proposals are “for development of major importance having more than local significance” and the proposals are “for significant development on the green belt”

Margaret Greenwood MP and the Leader of Wirral Council, Councillor Paul Stuart have written to Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Regeneration requesting that he considers “recovering” the Leverhulme Planning Appeals for determination by himself.

PLEASE WILL YOU EMAIL MICHAEL GOVE MP and let him know the thoughts of the people of Wirral on these destructive plans to destroy our precious Green Belt.

Some of the issues that you can email about could include the following:

·       There is a great imbalance between population survival rates in the east and west of the Borough. This makes the Council’s concentration on an Urban Regeneration strategy focussing on the east of the Borough an opportunity not to be missed – especially given it would be fully in line with the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ Strategy.

·       The Wirrals Local Plan has identified sufficient Brownfield land to meet the Boroughs housing need. There is no need to build on Green Belt.

·       The Local Plan Examination itself has been delayed to allow these Leverhulme Appeals. This has caused a direct conflict between the two procedures and is a major example of “Prematurity”. Should Leverhulmes win their appeals they threaten to derail the whole Brownfield only urban regeneration strategy of the Council’s Local Plan.  

·       The Prime Minister and Michael Gove MP have both made it clear that there must be no building on Green Belt

·       The people of Wirral are united in their opposition to Leverhulmes plans. The whole Council, across all political parties, are unanimous in their opposition to building on the Green Belt. 100s have turned up to recent Planning Appeal public meetings, 1000s have signed petitions and the Wirral Green Space Alliance,  an alliance of over 20 local environmental and conservations groups, have joined forces to oppose the plans. These houses are not wanted…..or needed!

·       At a time of increasing food prices and food shortages it is madness to concrete over our food producing farmland.

·       We are facing a climate emergency and we need our Green Belt to mitigate against floods and drought and to provide a sanctuary for wildlife which is also facing a biodiversity crisis

·       These houses would be car-dependent increasing traffic and pollution. Houses need to be built in the right places, close to sustainable transport and employment.

·       These fields are essential for the mental health and wellbeing of the population of Wirral who enjoy exercising in these open spaces with far reaching views.

Please add to or amend these comments as you see fit.

Please email Michael Gove at correspondence@levellingup.gov.uk

We need as many people as possible to send and email to let Michael Gove know the strength of feeling against Leverhulmes Plans.

Thank you for your help and support.