2006
September
Draft East Midlands Regional Plan (successor to existing Regional Spatial Strategy RSS8 and the adopted Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Structure Plan) is put out to public consultation. It proposes major housing development East of Thurmaston and North of Hamilton. Barkby Parish Council opposes development.

2007
May-July
Public Examination of Draft East Midlands Plan Barkby Parish Council representatives attend and again oppose development locally. The Public Examination agrees with dwelling numbers and PUAs but leaves exact locations of SUEs (Sustainable Urban Extensions) to the district authorities such as Charnwood.

2008
July - October
Public invited to comment on Draft Regional Plan. Again Barkby Parish Council states its position. Charnwood planners publish favoured options including East of Thurmaston North of Hamilton (later known as the Thurmaston Sustainable Urban Extension) in widely distributed “Charnwood 2026 planning for our next generation”

Autumn
Charnwood initiate a period of public consultation. Barkby Parish Council reiterates its position.

At this stage the Council is targeting June 2009 for its decision to go ahead with the 5000 houses.

November
November 19th
Charnwood Planners speak at public meeting in Barkby Village Hall at invitation of Barkby Parish Council

December
December 2nd
BABTAG (Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Parishes Action Group) set up at a public meeting in St. Mary's Church organised by Barkby Parish Council
December 3-5th
Initial BABTAG comments on Charnwood 2026 sent to CBC and sent via press releases to the media
December 5th
End of consultation period on Charnwood 2026. 1192 individuals and organisations have sent in comments 97% opposing the development proposals
December 15th
Chairman BABTAG meets with Barkby Councillor, Mike Preston
December 18th
First meeting of full BABTAG committee

2009
January
January 8th
BABTAG holds meeting with Thurmaston Unite group and agree to cooperate
January 16th
BABTAG meeting with Charnwood Planners
Press releases to media on what BABTAG has done so far
January 20th
BABTAG Chairman and Parish Council Chairman have meeting with local landowner, John Pochin.
January 21st
Queniborough wind farm action group and BABTAG agree on mutual co-operation
January 29th
BABTAG Chairman and Parish Council Chairman meet Stephen Dorrell, MP
Seeking political support BABTAG sends 10 point letter to all Charnwood councillors

February
Realising that transport and traffic issues are key to the 5000 homes proposal Charnwood commissions a new south Charnwood transport study which has the effect of delaying a full council decision on development until the autumn.

The new target for a decision is now October 2009

March
Local councillor, Mike Preston becomes leader of Charnwood Borough Council
March 17th
BABTAG meeting with CPRE

April
April 14th
South Charnwood Transport Study published revealing new roads and other measures necessary to mitigate transport problem for the proposed Thurmaston SUE
April 27th
Leicester and Leicestershire Growth Infrastructure Assessment published showing huge gap in funding for infrastructure for new developments
April 24th
Parade of banners and placards through Barkby attracts more than 200 marchers
April 25th
Banners erected at key sites at the entrances to the villages
April 27th
BABTAG meets with representatives of the main development group, CEG (Commercial Estates Group)

May
BABTAG leaflet alerts villagers to forthcoming CEG exhibitions in area
May 6th
CEG (the key developer) holds exhibition in Shooting Room Barkby Hall
May 31st
BABTAG comments on Infrastructure costs and on the South Charnwood Transport Study sent to Charnwood Borough Council

The target date for a decision is further delayed till November 2009

June
In a joint leaflet with Thurmaston Unite Group BABTAG alerts Barkby, Barkby Thorpe, Thurmaston, Syston and Queniborough to the aspirations of developers to build far more than 5000 houses
June 4th
County Council elections - Mike Preston and Paul Harley both re-elected
June 8th
BABTAG writes to all 52 Charnwood Councillors drawing their attention to infrastructure and transport issues facing the 5000 houses proposal
June 11th
BABTAG comments on the potential loss of heritage sites sent to Charnwood Borough Council
June 12th
BABTAG second meeting with the Charnwood Planners and with leader of the Council, Mike Preston where it becomes clear that options to split the 5000 houses between Thurmaston and Anstey are being considered.

July
More placards and roadside signs appear on land threatened by the 5000 houses
BABTAG responds to Partial Review of the Regional Plan opting for a development strategy based on expanding the county's market towns rather than Greater Leicester and challenging the Review's population predictions.

August
August 28th
Charnwood Transport Assessment findings published which give costs for splitting the 5000 houses between a Thurmaston SUE and an Anstey SUE

September
September 10th
Charnwood planners reveal that dates for a decision have slipped again

The target date for a decision has slipped to March 2010

October
October 12th
BABTAG's comments on splitting the development between Thurmaston and Anstey sent to Charnwood Borough Council
Questions on possible delays, population estimates, waste dumps, and affect of current and new housing developments on the city border sent to Charnwood planners
October 24-25th
BABTAG leaflet revealing further delays distributed throughout Barkby and Barkby Thorpe

November
November 11th
BABTAG social/fundraising evening Barkby village hall
November 12th
Charnwood planners intend to seek a steer from the Charnwood Cabinet on whether to concentrate their work on a split development (Thurmaston/Anstey) or on a 5000 dwellings plus 50 hectares of employment land north of Hamilton and east of Thurmaston.

December
The Charnwood Cabinet did not give a steer to the planners and decided to postpone any decision on the 5000 houses until after the General Election.

2010
April
April 5th
Gordon Brown confirms that the General election will be held on May 6th.

April 8th
The position of the candidates for the Charnwood parliamentary constituency on the 5000 houses is posted on the BABTAG website. They all oppose the CBC’s north of Hamilton east of Thurmaston proposal.

April 25th
"The Battlefield Tour" - guided afternoon walks over countryside threatened by the 5000 houses proposal. Tours leave the from the Malt Shovel Inn car park at 2.30, 3.00 and 3.30pm.

May
May 6th
The General Election.
The Coalition Government frees CBC from its obligation to build the Thurmaston SUE and allows it to decide for itself where and how many houses will be built.

June
CBC awaits guidance from the government before announcing any changes to its housing policy.

October
BABTAG distributes leaflet warning that the threat of the 5000 houses remains very real.
The Third Transport Plan for Leicestershire is published making it clear that the County Council cannot afford to build major new roads and confirming that traffic congestion will increase if the 5000 houses proposal goes ahead.

November
New population projections published which show that household growth is likely to be significantly less than earlier predictions.

December
Decentralisation and Localism Bill published
Director of Development at Charnwood Borough Council, David Hankin, replaced by Eileen Mallon.

2011
January
Two years after it was founded BABTAG distributes questionnaires to assess the level of support for its objectives. Returns reveal 100% support and strong objections to the 5000 houses.
Meeting attended by BABTAG members held in the village hall to discuss and receive comments on the Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area Appraisal.
Area Forum meeting in the village hall attended by BABTAG members seeks views on Green Spaces.

Febuary
Findings from the January questionnaire sent to local media, councillors and council officials and leaflet detailing responses sent to every household in Barkby and Barkby Thorpe parishes.

March
Church Drop-In in Barkby village hall on March 5th discusses “living in the area” issues including housing.
Conservation Area Appraisal goes before the Charnwood Cabinet on March 17th.

May
Charnwood Borough Council elections on May 5th.

December
Decentralisation and Localism Bill expected to be passed into law and become an Act of Parliament.
Charnwood Council expected to reveal its revised housing proposals when it the Local Development Framework goes public.