Sam attacks Labour/Conservative Housing plan

1.21.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Jul 2008

Sam Potts and Milton Keynes Lib Dems have vowed to fight Government plans to build 5,600 houses in the Borough to the East of the M1 up to 2026, and potentially more in the following years.

Commenting on the Government's response to the South East Plan, Lib Dem Council Leader Isobel McCall said, "The Government has completely ignored the views of Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes Partnership, rural Parish Councils including Moulsoe, many local people and even its own independent Panel of experts, set up to review the South East Plan. The Government is increasing housing numbers in the Milton Keynes area, over and above the 70,000 already planned, by stealth."

A major study of options for the direction of growth in Milton Keynes recommended growth to the South East and South West of the existing city in order to support the re-opening of the East-West rail route. The option of building to the East of the motorway was rejected as unsustainable and would require major, very expensive infrastructure to connect it with the rest of Milton Keynes. This approach was supported by Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes Partnership and many local residents, in spite of efforts by Tory run Buckinghamshire Councils. They commissioned the Buchanan report specifically to identify how housing could be built to the East of the motorway, in order to protect their own area from development. The independent panel of experts that examined all the housing options in detail rejected the proposals for housing East of the M1 and made its recommendations to the Government, in support of the Milton Keynes Council position (as set out in the South East Plan).

Lib Dem Cllr. Sam Potts, whose Sherington ward would be most affected by the Government's proposals said; "Residents in my ward will be devastated to hear this news. Hundreds of them signed petitions and made representations to the independent Panel. Last year they were told by their local Conservative MP that "there are no "plans" for housing East of the M1 although his colleagues elsewhere in the county most clearly did have plans. Residents have been let down by the Tories and by the Labour Government. I will fight these proposals to concrete over attractive rural villages".

Cllr Douglas McCall, Cabinet member for Sustainable Development, said; "Proposals for homes at the edge of Milton Keynes, just inside the Bedfordshire border, have been considered as part of the MK housing growth figures for the last few years. The Government has suddenly decided we can't count them as Milton Keynes and is telling us to build East of the M1 to increase our own housing numbers. The Government is increasing housing numbers in the Milton Keynes area by stealth."

The Government is consulting on its proposals until 24 October. The Government makes the final decision on the direction of growth in Milton Keynes.

ENDS