Why build on the green belt?

Sir, I recently watched a TV programme called ‘Britain’s Empty Homes and according to this programme, there are one million empty homes so why are we still going to build on our food producing greenbelt land?

Given the revised figures of 13,000 houses in 15 years (last weeks edition of Advertiser), this equates to a population growth of between 50,000 and 60,000. Taking Rotherham’s population from approximately 253,000 to 310,000 in 15 years with all the stress of our infrastructure, schools, roads, hospitals etc.

Apart from very much needed building jobs (hopefully local contractors/workers), I cannot see any other positives.

Where are all these people coming from and where will they work? Like the fields of our greenbelt, Rotherham folk may be fertile but not that much, or are all these people coming from elsewhere?

John Green 127 Scrooby Street Greasborough