THORNTON ON THURSDAY

Whe n Shailesh Vara says he’s coming out fighting we should all pay attention. After all the MP for North West Cambridgeshire is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do!

He also has a reputation for working behind the scenes so his immediate, very strong and very public reaction to plans for 2,500 homes near Castor and Ailsworth would suggest they have rattled his cage.

He has promised to strongly oppose the socalled Great Kyne settlement (does whoever comes up with these names think sticking Great in it will fool anyone?).

It is included in the draft local plan for Peterboroughbut Mr Vara argues that people in villages “want a certain way of life away from the hustle and bustle of busy cities and to enjoy more peaceful surroundings.’’

At first look I was in agreement with him.

When I first moved to Peterborough almost 20 years ago my first home was in Castor. In keeping with that pretty village it was a pictur- esque old cottage. It looked lovely from the outside but inside, well, I think an estate agent would say it was ‘in need of some modernisation’’.

We should listen to what Mr Vara says – we can be sure he’s not just doing it to win a few votes as with one of the safest seats in the country he could walk down Bridge Street wearing a Mao Tse Tung style smock, singing The Red Flag and still get re-elected as long as the word Conservative was in brackets after his name.

But I think this time he is overstating the case.

If it is accepted that Peterborough must follow this aggressive growth agenda (and I for one wish it didn’t) the location of these homes seems an acceptable solu- tion. As part of the plans a new country park will be created which would be a buffer between Castor and Ailsworth and Great Kyne.

In any case there’s already the 4-lane A47 which creates a strong boundary.

Even so, I doubt many in Castor will be impressed by my argument.

This is not the first time this area has been earmarked for a large development. Castor was originally intended to be Peterborough’s fourth township but so vehement was the opposition that in the end the plan was abandonded and Hampton was created instead.

Those village people may want ‘to enjoy more peaceful surroundings’ but they are prepared to fight for it.