THE leader of Thurrock Conservatives Councillor Andrew Jefferies has blasted the Labour Government’s announcement this week that it will force local councils to build more homes on currently protected open space.
Labour’s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor has announced the new Government will reimpose strict housing targets on councils like Thurrock forcing them to release more greenbelt land for development.
The last Conservative Government abolished housing targets giving councils and local people more freedom to decide where new homes should be built and how best to deliver supporting infrastructure.
Cllr. Jefferies said “we need more homes in Thurrock and it has always been the case that some greenbelt would need to be used for this, if enough brownfield or previously developed sites cannot be found. However, under the Conservatives, we were preparing a Local Plan, a document which would set out clearly those areas of greenbelt which we would protect from development. The bottom line is that we were in control of where homes should be built and where they would not.
All of this is at risk now as Labour looks set to create a developers’ charter that will strip councils like Thurrock of some planning powers and force us to surrender more greenbelt. Residents are not only concerned that we will lose more precious open space than is necessary, but that vital services which are already under strain will break due to Labour’s planned housing bonanza.
There is double blow for Thurrock as Labour has agreed to take pressure off their pal Sadiq Khan by reducing the housing target he will need to meet in London. Not only is this madness given London has an acute housing crisis, but it also means areas adjoining the Capital like Thurrock will have to make up the shortfall. Essentially, we may be forced to concrete over our greenbelt for London’s overspill. Just like with ULEZ, Thurrock looks set to feel the brunt of Labour’s ill-thought out polices.”
Conservative councillors in Aveley, South Ockendon and East Thurrock including Orsett are particularly concerned at Labour’s announcement. These areas have large areas of privately owned greenbelt which developers may want to bulldoze for new homes.
Councillor for Orestt ward and Conservative regeneration spokesman Barry Johnson said “under the approach adopted by the Conservatives were able to limit the housing growth in many corners of Thurrock but it looks like the tables will be turned in developers’ favour.
A few weeks ago, I saw off a planning application for hundreds of new homes on greenbelt in Bulphan, something which would have decimated the village. However, the plans announced by Labour could make it much harder for me to do this in the future”.
We are a tiny Island . We accept too many people into the country legally and illegally. We are obliged to house them without thought as to how it affects the country for everyone else. Green belt means nothing anymore because the government can overturn any agreements made regarding building on land which is there for a purpose. For clean air, nature , healthy lifestyles leisure, Taking away precious land for houses also means addition infrastructure. Sadly our country is sinking with too many people being allowed to live here and in no time at all it will become a concrete jungle