Eco-town proposals in disarray

New housing minister Margaret Beckett has caused alarm by suggesting a new site could be found for the Western Otmoor eco-town. Yesterday’s sustainability report into the locations of the proposed eco-towns had Western Otmoor ranked lowest of the 12 shortlisted sites. Ms Beckett said an alternative site may prove a better option. However, residents are ‘alarmed’ and ‘don’t see how shifting the problem from A to B is actually going to solve anything’. The Local Government Association has threatened legal action over the failure to follow planning procedures.