Labour’s Great Land Grab revealed
The Conservatives on West Lancs Borough Council are up in arms about Labour’s secret plans for a massive release of land from the greenbelt for a new and unnecessary Local Plan. A Local Plan for a huge increase in the existing annual target for new homes and commercial use.
Most surprising of all, Labour want to provide land to meet the housing and commercial needs of neighbouring councils.
Conservative Leader, Cllr David Westley, said: “The existing Adopted Local Plan still has 9 years to run yet Labour are clearly intent on producing a new Plan, one that will cover an unprecedented 30 years and need the release of hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land in our greenbelt."
"Labour also want to dispense with the present use of safeguarding potential future sites. This means the Council would abdicate its responsibility to manage the release of sites and allow developers or as they term it the “market” to decide which sites should be developed first. It would also mean all the sites needed for the next 30 years would be available for development from the 2020.”
Cllr Westley, added: “Labour’s plans are irresponsible and if implemented would have hugely detrimental effect right across West Lancashire. Labour do not appreciate the importance of our greenbelt not understand that the Council should act as its custodian and all councillors should be determined to maintain it for future generations. The Conservative group are determined to oppose Labour’s reckless plans."
A copy of my letter to the Labour Leader is attached.
For more information contact:
Cllr David Westley
T 07584 619555