PRESS RELEASE

10 February 2003

OTTAWAY, BUTTINGER, O'CONNELL - STOP SPECULATION ON GREEN BELT

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, and Kenley Conservative Councillors, Jan Buttinger and Steve O'Connell, have met with Kenley Residents to discuss speculative development in Kenley Pastures, Hermitage Road, Kenley.

This follows the sale of green-belt fields, that were previously used for grazing horses, to a company called Property Spy who have staked out plots in a manner which suggests they are to be used for speculative property development.

Richard Ottaway and his colleagues said:-

"We have to make it crystal clear to any prospective buyer that development will not be permitted on this site which only has agricultural and recreational value. To pay £22,000 per plot is foolish and buyers are unlikely to be able to recover these sums"

"The worry is that this land will fall into disuse, become overgrown with dangerous weeds and be lost to those who have enjoyed it for centuries."

"I congratulate the Council on their prompt action in making it clear that development will not be permitted. They must make sure that this message is communicated to all prospective buyers."

"In the meantime I will be supporting moves in Parliament to outlaw this type of speculation, which ruins the landscape, by proposing amendments to the planning laws. "

ends

For further information please call 020 7219 6392