Party leaders back West Mids MP

2.28.36pm GMT Sun 19th Feb 2006

Party leadership candidates back Lorely's Bill

Solihull's Lib Dem MP, Lorely Burt, has presented a Bill before the House of Commons to protect parkland from being sold off by local councils and give local people more of a say in planning decisions. During her successful election campaign, the Lib Dem MP vowed to continue the fight by over 15,000 Solihull residents to stop the Conservatives selling off local green spaces. All the Lib Dem leadership candidates have jointly given their full to support Lorely's effort to turn the Bill into an Act.

"I was third in a ballot to present a new Bill, and two of my colleagues have stepped aside to allow me to fulfil my promise to introduce Lorely's Law, for which I am extremely grateful," said Lorely.

The Bill has 4 main provisions:

With any proposed sale of public green space sufficient objections would trigger a local referendum;

For windfall developments gardens would be re-designated as green space instead of brownfield and true inner city brownfield sites would have to be developed BEFORE people's back gardens;

Residents could appeal to the Secretary of State against decisions to grant planning permission to developers;

Trees over a certain size and age would be protected so that developers could not get rid of them prior to submitting a planning application

Lorely is also calling for the implementation of the 2004 Planning Act which will stop developers being able to re-submit applications time and time again, causing communities years of worry while developers try to wear down their resistance. 'This Bill would restore the balance and give local people a say in the planning decisions which shape their environments and their lives' said Lorely.