At last, Cllr Alan Dean has finally admitted (Observer 11th December) that he supports the East Of England Regional Assembly (EERA) and Government housing allocations for Uttlesford. I quote, his comments about the regional planning panel and its role in housing development “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”.

So now we know what Cllr Dean was doing when he represented Uttlesford on the East of England Regional Assembly. Indeed, he attended EERA quarterly meetings without fail between December 2004 and February 2007 when housing allocations throughout the East of England including Uttlesford were being discussed, accepted and imposed. He was clearly the architect of the housing allocation for Uttlesford, but he thinks that was all right because, “the public hardly knew”.

His letter goes on to say that “he is deeply saddened that the local Conservatives want to shun their responsibilities to come up with a socially and environmentally sustainable solution to Uttlesford’s housing needs”. However, what he is criticising is MP Eric Pickles statement that if elected the Conservatives would disband the regional assemblies and allow local people to decide the level and type of housing which they need in their own locality. That doesn’t mean that local requirements for additional and affordable homes would not be provided, but it does mean that centrally allocated housing numbers that are out of proportion with local requirements would no longer be foist upon us.

If Cllr. Dean really believes that the 4200 houses imposed on Uttlesford are “a socially and environmentally sustainable solution to Uttlesford’s housing needs” then he should admit that he is the cause of the much criticised Option 4 or the alternative of extensive new development in Dunmow, Stebbing, Saffron Walden or anywhere else which he and his favoured Regional Assembly think is a good idea “as long as the public hardly know”.

Cllr Dean, you should hang your head in shame at the distress and devastation that you have caused to this community, which you purport to represent.

Tags: Liberal Democrats Essex County Local Development Framework Uttlesford