Village to vote on eco-town plan

Surrounding villages have all voted to oppose the scheme

Residents of a village near a proposed eco-town site in Leicestershire are being asked for their opinion on the controversial plans.

Villagers in Great Glen will be asked whether they support the plans for a 15,000-home development in Pennbury in a consultation by the parish council.

The nearby villages of Stoughton, Scraptoft, Thurnby and Bushby have already voted to reject the proposals.

Residents were able to cast their vote at the village hall.

Airfield site

Liz Hawkes, clerk to Great Glen Parish Council, said: "I think people in Great Glen don't want this development and I think we are giving them the opportunity for that to officially be the case.

"The feeling here is that people do want to be heard, they want the opportunity to be heard."

The Co-operative Group wants to build a a 15,000-home settlement on a small airfield site south of Leicester.

Detailed plans unveiled by the Co-operative Group revealed proposals for seven primary schools, two secondary schools and a tram system feasibility study.

The group is bidding to be part of a government scheme to create 10 carbon-neutral developments, which have been dubbed eco-towns.