Campaigners battling to stop a student village in Blacon have vowed not to stop fighting to save their Green Belt

Dec 15 2011 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

CAMPAIGNERS battling plans to build a student village, which they say will destroy acres of green belt land on their doorsteps, have vowed not to stop fighting until the bitter end.

Residents living in Poets Corner, Blacon, are protesting against the plans to build accommodation housing 2,500 students every year, which they say will destroy a valuable piece of green land where children play and residents walk their dogs.

So far more than 3,000 residents have signed a petition to save Cheshire’s green belt, which was launched after members of the Poets Corner Residents Association saw the plans to build on the land which separates Blacon from the traffic on the A540.

Now concerned residents are protesting against the ‘student village’ in attempt to get people to ‘sit-up-and-listen’ during the final consultation today (Thursday) and stop the development being given the green light.

Ruth Shaw, who has lived in Poets Corner for more than 20 years, said the fields are well used by runners, walkers, and families and would be greatly missed if the development got the go ahead.

“There is very little green land between Blacon and the A540,” said Ruth.

“Over the years there has been an escalation in development of new houses, buildings and, of course, the new police station, which means that these fields are now our main area of green land.

“We do not have any quality open spaces such as park land. This area has been heavily used by residents, people come for miles to walk their dogs, run, play football and walk.

“It has been a valuable amenity to the community.”

Ruth, a former University of Chester student, explained the residents were not against students, saying that they would be against ‘any development on the green belt land’.

“People living in this area have taken students into their homes for exchanges, we are not against students at all, but we are against the size and scale of the development on the green belt land.

“Losing these fields would be a massive loss to everyone,” said Ruth.