16/07/09 - Campaigners take Longridge Wood protest to Westminster

Campaigners to save Longridge Wood are taking their battle over the future of the site to Parliament.  A film depicting the battle over the popular beauty spot in Marton will be shown on Monday afternoon, 4.30pm, in the House of Lords and will be hosted by Lord Bates of Langbaurgh.  The short documentary about Longridge Woods, also known as Site 44, was made by a local film-maker Craig Hornby.

Middlesbrough council has earmarked the site for housing, and very recently removed a third of the trees despite overwhelming opposition.  Campaigners have a petition with nearly 2,000 signatures against development. 

Local Government Minister, John Healey MP, has been invited to the showing along with local campaigners, environmental charities, and the local MP Ashok Kumar.

The showing is taking place following a suggestion from Paul Bristow, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland.   Paul stated:

"I am delighted Lord Bates has agreed to facilitate the showing of the film at Westminster. The council is ignoring the wishes of local residents building on land treasured by the community.  This is why we want to take our campaign to Westminster to convince Ministers and parliamentarians.''

Marton West councilor, Chris Hobson, who has led the campaign from start stated:

"We have been fighting for this woodland for four years and even though the Council have bulldozed part of the site, the residents wish to retain the rest of the woodland.   If we could retain this site the residents would plant fruit trees and make it into a community orchard.  

"Longridge Wood is valuable to the community where children play and ride their bikes, the older generation find it easy to walk to and just a good size to walk around keeping them fit and healthy.   Middlesbrough have been awarded a grant for obesity, does it make sense to take away something that keeps everyone fit and healthy?''