Flabbergasted Council Leaded

THE Leader of Rochford District Council, James Newport, says he was flabbergasted to read a Conservative Councillor’s recent comments about house building in the Rochford District Council area.

 He said: “talk about the kettle calling the pot black.

 “The Conservatives inflicted wave upon wave of overdevelopment onto Rayleigh when they were in charge, at the same time their party received huge donations from the construction industry. 

 “The Tories failed to secure new infrastructure for most of the new developments approved during their period of control and failed to obtain millions of pounds through community infrastructure levy (CIL).

 “To top it off the Conservatives even tried to demolish Mill Hall and the Civic Suite and build flats in Rayleigh’s Conservation Area.”

 The new Liberal Democrat & Independent administration of Rochford Council added that they are determined to put right the mistakes of the former administration.

 A spokesperson added: “Since taking office earlier this year they have continued to work at pace, to develop a new Local Plan.

 “This is  a big policy document; it describes planning controls in the area, housing, employment and shops. The  Local Plan also identifies where development should take place and areas where development should be restricted. However, government dictates the quantity of housing in all the local government areas.”

 Coun Jim Cripps, Rochford’s Lib Dem Chair of Planning Policy Committee said: “The new Labour government have made an awful start on so many issues.

 “Not least was their immediate demand that many councils, like those in our part of Essex, should accept huge amounts of extra housing. Rochford will suffer a 93.5% increase from 356 new houses to 689 per annum, Castle Point 96% increase from 349 to 685 and Maldon 97% increase from 276 to 544.

 “All these areas have massive marshlands. Surely the government Civil Servants who drew up these extra housing requirements knew all these areas have vast tracts of land below the flood plain? 

 “The government claim all the areas will get the necessary infrastructure, I find it very difficult to believe that.

 “At the same time the new Government have greatly reduced housing targets in the London boroughs, just coincidentally Labour run councils. Surely the homeless problems and the greatest demand for homes are in those same London Boroughs. 

 “We have to fight our corner for local people, but we need reasoned argument to get the reductions our residents need.”

 

Picture: Councillors Jim Cripps and James Newport

 

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