New Homes for Uttlesford - It's Time For A Fresh Start (Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk>

New Homes for Uttlesford - It's Time For A Fresh Start

April 15, 2008 10:21 PM

Uttlesford Conservatives' proposed new town in Elsenham and Henham.

The Liberal Democrats oppose plans for the eco-town in Elsenham proposed by Labour and the Conservatives.

On Thursday 22nd April, Uttlesford Council will be debating a Conservative motion opposing a 5000-home eco-town at Elsenham. Until the Labour government's bombshell on 3rd. April, the Conservatives were enthusiastically promoting an eco-community of at least 3,000 houses in the same place. Now there is a real danger that Uttlesford will be forced to accept an additional 5000 houses in Elsenham as well as the original 3000 houses. This means that everywhere in Uttlesford is at risk.

Commenting on the Conservative motion, Leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Peter Wilcock said "I will only be happy to support the motion if the Tories drop their original 3,000 home plan. This mess was entirely avoidable and entirely of the Conservatives' creation. The words of the motion are just that - words. They will carry no credibility with anyone while the architects of the Elsenham new town plan - Council Leader Jim Ketteridge and Environment Committee Chair Susan Barker - remain in positions of power within the Council. In the spirit of co-operation that the residents of Uttlesford rightly demand in this dangerous situation, I will not be moving a motion of no confidence in either Cllr. Ketteridge or Cllr. Barker. I am however inviting them to consider their positions very carefully."

The Liberal Democrats ran a poll on their web site www.saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk between Saturday 4th April and Saturday 11th April. Two questions were asked.

There were 41 responses to the question "Do you think that Uttlesford Conservatives should apologise for bringing Elsenham and Henham to the government's attention as a possible future eco-settlement?" 59% of respondents answered YES; 41% answered NO. No respondent selected the DON'T KNOW option.

There were 48 responses to the question "Should Conservative Cllr. Susan Barker - a leading supporter of the Elsenham eco-community plan - resign as Chairman of Uttlesford District Council's Environment Committee?" 60% of respondents answered YES; 38% answered NO and 2% selected the DON'T KNOW option.

At the Council meeting, the Liberal Democrats will be renewing their calls for a fresh start on the housing issue - with an assessment of Uttlesford's existing housing need, meaningful consultation with residents and parish councils and inclusive approach to solving this problem, which threatens the rural character of the district. They have renewed their invitation to the Conservatives to all party discussions on the crisis during the coming week; an invitation which has so far been spurned by the Tory group leadership.