Lib Dems 'oppose ecotowns'

The Liberal Democrats have voted to oppose a government scheme to develop ecotowns, it has emerged.

According to businessgreen.com, a vote at the party's conference came down against the proposals on the grounds that they world actually harm the environment.

Shadow housing spokesman Lembit Opik said that the ecotowns are "being foisted on local populations who do not want them".

The website reported that Mr Opik said the government should focus on making existing towns and cities greener.

"The real ecotowns must not be new towns. The real ecotowns that we need are London, Manchester and Birmingham - towns that exist already and will still be there in 2050," he proclaimed.

In April of this year, the government revealed 15 locations that had been shortlisted to become the first new towns in England for 40 years, the BBC revealed.

The national news provider stated that the government's ministers are planning to have five built by 2016, with the remainder completed by 2020.