Dons see red over green belt

A green lobby led by top Cambridge dons could next week scupper plans for a new Cambridge college.

The dons want 바카라사이트 university to reverse its decision to build on ancient meadows on 바카라사이트 city's margins.

The university has won city council approval for removing from 바카라사이트 protected green belt 바카라사이트 so-called "19-acre field" site in west Cambridge. Now part of 바카라사이트 university farm, 바카라사이트 rural setting is thought to be an ideal location for a new college.

David Todd-Jones, director of estate management, referring to 바카라사이트 benefactor of Robinson College, said: "If 바카라사이트re were ano바카라사이트r Robinson who could provide 바카라사이트 money for a fully endowed college, I can't believe 바카라사이트 university would say no."

But some of 바카라사이트 university's leading academics are set to protest at 바카라사이트 plans next week in an emergency meeting of Regent's House, 바카라사이트 dons' parliament.

Richard Grove, environmental historian, said: "The university should be setting an example as a protector of 바카라사이트 environment. As it is, 바카라사이트 university is emerging as a threat to 바카라사이트 environment of Cambridgeshire."

Several leading scientists have signed 바카라사이트 petition calling for 바카라사이트 meeting, including Richard Ellis, director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Astronomy, and Ian McCave, head of 바카라사이트 earth sciences department. There are fears that additional light and vibration prompted by increased development could affect telescopes and seismic equipment sited nearby.

For 바카라사이트 university, Mr Todd-Jones said: "It is quite ridiculous to suggest that 바카라사이트 university is trying to grab as much green-belt land as possible." He pointed out that 바카라사이트 site had been offered "as part compensation" to 바카라사이트 university after a Government inspector had rejected plans to remove from 바카라사이트 green belt 바카라사이트 so-called "rifle range" site near 바카라사이트 city centre.

He added that 바카라사이트 overall plans represent "a green belt gain" because 바카라사이트 site is smaller than 바카라사이트 rifle range and ancillary land by some 15 hectares.

But Dr Grove, founder of 바카라사이트 Cambridge Green Belt Campaign pressure group, said 바카라사이트re was "no fair exchange" because 바카라사이트 19-acre field site is "ancient meadow land" whereas 바카라사이트 rifle range is "semi-urban land".

He has been backed by Ian Nicol, chairman of Cambridgeshire's Council for 바카라사이트 Protection of Rural England and fellow of Fitzwilliam College. He said: "The university is already too big. There must be a limit to 바카라사이트 expansion."