Tories' Push For Greenfield Development Spells Disaster For Worcestershire

10.17.51pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Nov 2006

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, today accused Worcestershire Tories of being willing partners in the Deputy Prime Minster's latest plans for excessive house building on Worcestershire greenfield sites.

Richard Burt said: "Worcestershire is likely to be allocated far more housing as part of the overall West Midlands plan because of the Tory-controlled County Council's failure to provide a critical response to housing numbers put forward through the West Midlands Regional Assembly.

"Both Shropshire and Staffordshire County Councils have raised strong concerns about proposed numbers, with Shropshire proposing their own alternative and pledging to 'protect the environmental assets and countryside setting' of its own county town, Shrewsbury.

"Staffordshire County Council has also stressed that their county 'is not committed to a particular strategy where important parameters are not known.'

In contrast, Worcestershire has indicated an initial acceptance of significant increases in housing numbers for the county as part of the review of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.

"Worcestershire's Tory-controlled County Council appear to be willing partners in the Deputy Prime Minister's drive in impose even bigger housing targets on the West Midlands over the next twenty years.

"Shropshire's analysis of their own housing needs means they have been able to respond with a locally generated plan for balanced growth and to protect the environment. Worcestershire's Tories have simply capitulated to housing numbers dreamt up by John Prescott in London.

"Tory Parliamentary Housing Spokesperson, Michael Gove recently admitted that the Tories would use more greenfield land for development. This would spell disaster for the environment and the character of Worcestershire, with more commuter journeys, more strain on infrastructure, loss of green lungs around the city and encroachment on the boundaries of ancient villages. It is hard to see what benefits can be derived from such a scenario."