Not stupid
CONSERVATIVE councillors Jim Ketteridge and Ray Gooding, together with MP Alan Haselhurst, are all in print recently putting faith in a possible future Tory government to rescue them from a self-inflicted credibility crisis over Uttlesford s housing plans
CONSERVATIVE councillors Jim Ketteridge and Ray Gooding, together with MP Alan Haselhurst, are all in print recently putting faith in a possible future Tory government to rescue them from a self-inflicted credibility crisis over Uttlesford's housing plans.
They seem to think that a different government would somehow disband the system of regional housing planning in favour of future housing numbers being decided in isolation by each district council.
That has never been the case; not even under the previous Conservative government. Then there was a regional planning panel. The public hardly knew it existed, but it assessed market needs and derived housing numbers, handing them down to counties and then on to districts.
That is what has been done in recent years through the present regional assembly. Councillors from across the region were advised by specialists; county totals were argued over and district totals were consulted upon. The present government has pressed to resolve years of housing shortage that has led to much personal and financial pain for many local individuals and families.
You may also want to watch:
I am deeply saddened that local Conservatives want to shun their responsibilities to come up with a socially and environmentally sustainable solution to Uttlesford's housing needs. It does their reputation no good whatsoever to play party politics by dragging their feet and by attempting to mislead the public into thinking that if they vote in a future Tory government, the need for extra housing will somehow evaporate.
The public are not stupid. They are already seeing through the irresponsible game-players at London Road, Saffron Walden, and they may resent being misled in the name of untrustworthy and cynical party political mischief.
Most Read
- 1 Kemi Badenoch MP secures new brief in September reshuffle
- 2 M11 targeted in week of motorway protests
- 3 Covid booster jab sessions due to start at Lord Butler
- 4 Andy Scott's Chornic Kidney Disease story
- 5 Astronomy: What to look for in the sky this September
- 6 'We're not closing down day centres', says council
- 7 Reflections: A World War One soldier who was killed in battle
- 8 Libraries campaign group is concerned at consultation plan
- 9 Appeal to find Stansted teen, missing for five days
- 10 Saffron Walden all set for big green festival
Alan Dean, Lib Dem Member for Stansted South, Uttlesford District Council
