Epsom & Ewell may escape Government drive to build on the Green Belt

4.14.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 19th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats in the forefront of the fight to save the Greenbelt

The amendments to the South-East Plan proposed by the Secretary of State this week, in response to the Independent Panel Report on the draft prepared by the Regional Assembly, do not appear to further increase the demand for additional new housing sites in Epsom & Ewell, which could only have been provided at the expense of the Metropolitan Green Belt.

"This is good news as far as the Borough is concerned", said Lib Dem Planning spokesman Cllr Colin Taylor, "though the government seems determined to ride roughshod over public opinion in other parts of Surrey".

The government has forced additional housing onto Elmbridge and Reigate & Banstead.