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Promoted by Ginny Heard on behalf of Mid Sussex Conservatives, 5 Hazelgrove Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3PH |
Conservatives challenge housing numbers At a meeting of Mid Sussex District Council on Wednesday 17 June, the controlling Conservative group ordered a re-think on the deliverability of 17,100 houses imposed by the government's South East Plan. These would have to be built by 2026 and would be the equivalent of a town half as large again as Haywards Heath or East Grinstead. Documents previously considered by the Council's Better Lives Advisory Group in March were submitted to Council for formal sign-off to deliver a Housing Strategy for 2009-2014, but they have been referred back for further consideration and revision. Conservatives felt that the unjustified housing numbers will place too great a strain on existing infrastructure – including schools, roads, rail and utility supplies. In addition, the distinctive features of our towns and villages would come under threat, particularly as almost 60% of the District is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Since the discussion in March, the Council sought Counsel's opinion on the possibility of demanding a judicial review but, as already announced, were advised that the chances of success against the Secretary of State were slim, and reluctantly that option was abandoned on the received advice and because of the likely cost to council taxpayers. Councillor Chris Snowling, Conservative spokesman for Health and Communities commented, "We have tried a number of official measures to get the government to understand that these housing numbers are unrealistic, and will do considerable harm to a particularly beautiful part of the Sussex countryside. We share our residents concern about the impact it will have on Mid Sussex and are determined to do whatever we can to provide a level of housing which is sustainable. That is what we have now asked for. "Conservatives are not anti-housing and recognise that people want the opportunity to have their own home, but we will not just lie down and follow what the government wants us to deliver. This is the start of our resistance to unrealistic demands on the District and its residents.
Gordon Marples, Leader
of the Mid Sussex Conservatives further added:
"A
Conservative
Government will scrap the SE Plan and centrally imposed housing targets,
returning decisions on housing numbers to local communities and their
democratically elected representatives. The action local Conservatives have
taken is consistent with that intention." |
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