Gordon Takes Part in Moss Debate at Parliament
Gordon spoke on Wednesday 4th November in Parliament's Westminster Hall on the Marton Moss situation. To read the contents of the debate, click here. Underneath are Gordon's comments prior to the debate taking place.
This 1/2 hour debate in Parliament's Westminster Hall is designed to underline how the major planning controversy which has blown up, about proposals to build hundreds and in the long run thousands of homes on Blackpool’s only remaining semi rural area Marton Moss and the response of Blackpool Council to it, highlights big challenges about sustainability, affordable housing and the regeneration of the central area of Blackpool.
The controversy has led to a campaign to ‘Save the Moss’ supported by myself as the local MP and 100s of local residents in the area. It has been further heightened by revelations that the developers wishing to build on the Moss made two £5000 donations to the Blackpool South Conservative Association. The controversy over the Moss was an absolute central issue in a by-election in the Ward in August.
The Marton Moss issue also throws up big general issues about our need to have a coherent strategy in Blackpool for linking the siting of new homes with coherent skills, employment and environmental policies and the Government’s desire to give preference to brownfield over greenfield development. We need, as I and the Save the Moss campaigners and many others have argued, alternative, far more sustainable strategies than large scale housing blocs- strategies that would preserve and expand the attraction and enjoyment of Marton Moss for residents and visitors to Blackpool alike.
