Witham MP Priti Patel has slammed the Labour Government’s changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and decision to impose top-down targets on local councils. Their plans will undermine local democracy and decision-making, leave the countryside vulnerable to huge new developments and fail to deliver new investment in local infrastructure and public services. The new targets mean that the Government is demanding that councils across Essex face 37% annual increase in their housing targets, nearly double the national 21% rise and above the East of England average at 29%. Councils like Maldon District Council are now expected to see their housing numbers double. The announcements from Government also stress a default position in favour of energy infrastructure, which will mean Labour’s plans to cover Essex and the East of England in pylons can be forced through.
Priti said:
“The Labour Government is on a mission to destroy Essex. It is hellbent on imposing huge increases in housing targets on our rural communities and bulldoze over our countryside and green and pleasant land. Labour Ministers should be ashamed for boasting about ignoring local voices and are curtailing the powers of democratically elected councillors. As they demand huge increases in housing targets, Labour are failing to provide the investment in new infrastructure and public services we need. Labour have already put at risk investment in the A12 Widening Scheme and A120 Dually Scheme, which would support economic growth.”
“While we need more housing and new local homes for local families, this is best achieved by working in partnership with communities rather than running roughshod over them. This part of Essex has already seen considerable levels of housing growth in recent years with Witham, Tiptree and Stanway increasing in size and this disastrous approach by Labour will not only harm our countryside but will undermine confidence and trust in our democracy.”
