It looks as though our environment has drawn the short straw with Mr Brown’s new government. His new Communities Secretary Hazel Blears is looking at the possibility of re-drawing the greenbelt map. When speaking to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, Ms Blears said “”I think we are going to have a tussle, if you like, because some people are concerned about environmental issues. But I think the priority has to be to build these homes.” She has also said that the government intends to move “very quickly indeed” to free up land for building. Neil Sinden, policy director of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, has commented on Ms Blears announcement saying that these new plans from Brown’s government will set it “on a collision course with local communities and environmental campaigners across the country.” via Guardian Unlimited and Telegraph.co.uk