HADDENHAM and Aldreth villagers are launching a fighting fund in an attempt to defeat the Mereham new town plan. They have formed a steering group and are planning to deliver leaflets to all houses in both villages urging residents to lodge their objectio

HADDENHAM and Aldreth villagers are launching a fighting fund in an attempt to defeat the Mereham new town plan.

They have formed a steering group and are planning to deliver leaflets to all houses in both villages urging residents to lodge their objections at the forthcoming planning inquiry and pledge donations to the fund.

Giant Australian development company, Multiplex, which built the troubled Wembley stadium, will take its case to the Government on October 9 in a bid to overturn planners' rejection of its new town project.

It wants to build 5,000 new homes between Wilburton and Stretham which campaigners fear would merge the two villages and change the whole face of East Cambridgeshire.

They are mounting a massive fight against the scheme and signs declaring 'No to Mereham' are being put up throughout the area.

Haddenham and Aldreth's 12-strong steering group plans to set up a petition on the Number 10 Downing Street website and hopes to research the issues surrounding the new town project, calling in local experts to make representations at the inquiry which will be held at Haddenham's Robert Arkenstall Centre.

Anyone interested in finding out more or joining the group can contact Julie Parr on 01353 741380 or by email at Julie@abundzu.co.uk or via the Haddenham website at www.haddenham.org.uk.

The group's next meeting will be on August 23.

Lesley.innes@archant.co.uk