CRISPIN BLUNT MP

PRESS STATEMENT – 6th May 2009

Reigate MP condemns government assault

on the green belt

“Conservatives will scrap the plan” Says Blunt

 

The Government was today accused of breaking its promise to protect the Green Belt. In a binding regional planning document issued by Hazel Blears, councils are instructed by the Secretary of State to remove Green Belt protection in a number of areas across the South East and follow binding targets for new development. Conservatives are pledging to scrap the plans. According to the Government’s final plans the housing target for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council will be 10,000 new homes at a rate of 500 new homes a year between 2006 and 2026.

After Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, he pledged: “I assure the House that we will continue robustly to protect the land designated as Green Belt” However, the Government’s final South East Plan today signals the removal of Green Belt across the South East including around Redhill and Reigate The plan allows rubbish dumps, landfill sites and incinerators to be built on the Green Belt. It also opens the prospect of new towns being dumped on the South East countryside, with plans for “new freestanding settlements”.

David Cameron has pledged to abolish the South East Plan and to return housing and planning powers to local councils. Today, Conservatives are advising councils not to spend time or taxpayers’ money in rushing ahead to implement the plan, given the prospect of a general election within 12 months and the associated uncertainty on whether these regional plans will exist in a year’s time.

Speaking in Westminster today local MP Crispin Blunt said:

“Ministers are today giving the green light to Green Belt destruction across the South East. It seems that the Government has completely ignored the public consultation initiated last year – even the Government admits that 80% of those who responded to the consultation opposed the plan.”

Mr Blunt went on to say:

“Conservatives will scrap the South East Plan, and let local communities decide the right level of development. Given a general election will be held within the next 12 months, councils would be wise to go slow on adopting the controversial provisions in this South East Plan. It is not in taxpayers’ interests for town halls to spend time and money on implementing Labour policies that could be scrapped within a year.”

ENDS

 

Office of Crispin Blunt MP: 0207 219 2254

Crispin Blunt: 07921 039891