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Nadine gives backing to holiday village
Mid Beds MP admits decision may lose her votes
Nadine Dorries has nailed her colours to plans for a Center Parcs resort in Bedfordshire – despite admitting it may cost her votes.
The Mid Beds MP made a speech to local business bosses from the Chamber of Commerce last Friday where she claimed to "fully support the Center Parcs application".
Mrs Dorries said: "With it, we meet the criteria for economic growth through tourism. It would move Mid Bedfordshire away from a motorway corridor to a desirable place to visit."
The MP, who was elected for the first time in May, cited a long list of benefits which would result from the resort.
As well as new full-time jobs she claimed there would be summer work for students, and that workers living locally would mean a long-term boost to the local housing market.
And she claimed to have a "personal guarantee" that staff would be mainly recruited from Mid Bedfordshire.
Plans for the 160 million project, to be built on the Duke of Bedford's estate at Warren Wood, near Woburn, were announced last December.
Mrs Dorries admitted: "I will be heavily criticised by opponents to the proposal in the local press and I may even lose some votes too.
"(But) if I did take the easy option I would feel ashamed of my position. I have no right to be an MP if I cannot make a difficult decision. Especially a difficult decision in public."
Mrs Dorries added: "I have visited Center Parcs' Longleat Forest Village in Wiltshire. I met Center Parcs employees and suppliers, and seen the product at first hand.
"I am not sure if the opponents have visited one of the villages but I feel it is helpful to see the concept at work before forming your own view."
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Weather for Bedford
Saturday 11 February 2012
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