New opposition to eco towns

The government's eco-towns plans took another blow when housing minister Caroline Flint faced a hostile reception from those opposed to the plans as she visited one of the proposed sites.

Ms Flint met with protesters in Suffolk near the site of the Ford eco town site and was given a clear message of their approval, the Shoreham Herald reports.

Campaigner Terry Knott, the vice chairman of Communities Against Ford Eco-Town, told the paper: "We are not opposed to eco-friendly housing but it has to be built as part of the democratic planning process."

The minister also suffered a heated reception when she visited another proposed site in the midlands.

Protesters booed as she appeared at the Long Marston site in Warwickshire to meet councillors and residents, the BBC reported earlier this week.

Those keen to live in an eco-home may find their hopes of doing so through the eco towns programme is diminishing due to the high level of opposition to the plans.

An alternative way to meet this aim is to use the self build method.