The Liberal Democrats continue to make mischief over sites for new housing. They churn out scare stories to try to persuade people that local Conservatives are hell-bent on putting houses here, there and everywhere. This is a gross deceit. At the same time the Liberal Democrats project themselves as supporters of the homeless and those in need of social housing. When challenged as to where these houses might go they retreat into obfuscation and talk vaguely about dispersal with sensitivity. Eyewash! They just do not want to be pinned down.

Let us be absolutely clear who is behind the pressure to build thousands of extra homes in our area: the Labour Government. They do not give a damn about the protection of rural areas. They see green fields and open spaces and want to build upon them. This forces local authorities not under Labour control into making plans for which they have no enthusiasm. The inevitable discontent to which this can give rise is something which Liberal Democrats delight in trying to exploit.

So let us be absolutely clear about something else. The housing targets imposed by the Labour Government, which are the source of all the trouble, will be scrapped if a Conservative Government is elected. Powers to determine their housing plans will be restored to local authorities. No more bullying, no eco-towns or whatever.

The forthcoming General Election is to decide who governs this country. It is not a referendum about particular policies of Chelmsford Borough Council, Uttlesford District Council or even Essex County Council. What it will determine is whether these councils will be free to make genuine local decisions or forced to knuckle under to the demands of unsympathetic Labour ministers.
 

Tags: Sir Alan Haselhurst Uttlesford Local Development Framework Liberal Democrats