Delight as decision on housing blueprint is delayed
Campaigners have welcomed news that a proposal to build thousands of houses in Gloucestershire has been put on hold.
The controversial Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West proposes 56,400 new homes in Gloucestershire by 2026.
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Campaigners in Gloucestershire have opposed the RSS
It suggests thousands should go on green fields by Leckhampton and Shurdington and greenbelt land to the north-east of Cheltenham, around Swindon Village, Uckington and Elmstone Hardwicke.
It also raises the prospect of thousands of new homes being built in Tewkesbury, Longford, Brockworth and south of Gloucester.
The final version of the document was due to be confirmed by the Government at the end of this month.
But it has been delayed due to problems with the East of England RSS, following a judicial review in the High Court.
In a letter to local authorities in the south west, Government spokesman Jon Bright, said: "On May 20, the High Court gave an oral judgment that the published RSS for the East of England failed to meet certain requirements of the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive in respect of policies relating to three towns.
"We are currently considering the potential implications for the RSS for the South West, but cannot reach a clear view until the written judgment is issued by the court.
"It is not possible to set a new timetable, until the implications of the judgment have been clarified, and what action is required, if any."
Those fighting the development plans are delighted at the delay.
Kit Braunholtz, chairman of the Leckhampton Green Land Action Group, said: "It's excellent. From our point of view, the more it gets delayed the better.
"By the time they get around to it, there will be another government. The Conservatives are saying that, if they can, they will scrap it."
Campaigners are hoping that the resignation of Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears could see changes being made to the RSS by her replacement, John Denham. Mr Braunholtz said he wondered whether change of personnel might have something to do with the latest announcement.
He said: "It could be part of the Government wanting to change the figures, but not wanting to say so."
Dave Witts, secretary of the Tewkesbury-based Severn and Avon Valley Combined Flood Group, said: "It's good news. It shows that the Government is having second thoughts because it knows it's doing wrong. Thirty-five thousand written objections have really made it sit up and think."
Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda said: "The uncertainty doesn't help but I dare say it would provide even greater uncertainty if something was published and later found to be illegal because of problems in the East of England."
The current RSS South West blueprint proposes 8,100 homes should be built in Cheltenham, 14,600 in Tewkesbury and 6,900 in the Cotswolds. A further 11,500 homes are earmarked for Gloucester, with 9,100 in Stroud and 6,200 in the Forest of Dean.
7 Comments
by Joe K, Bring Back the REAL Citizen Facebook Page
Thursday, June 18 2009, 8:29AM
“Mark and Cedric, you must see that that is never going to happen. Shaun Shute's role is Squealer to his boss in Pullman Court's Napoleon. It's nothing to do with accuracy, just a steady dribble of propaganda.
I asked Dhanda, at one of those surgeries he tries very hard to discourage constituents from going to, by demanding that they make appointments and tell him exactly what the issue is beforehand, why he had so much to say about Hunt's Grove, but not a thing about Longford. He gave me the usual surly brush off, before sending the police round to my house the next morning to tell me to be careful what *I* say. He'll make a great Speaker...”
by Anon, Cheltenham
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 8:24PM
“great news! Nu Labour keep your mitts off Cheltenham's green fields. Let's hope this is more than just a stay of execution and our children's children will have the beautiful fields around our town to enjoy.”
by Cedric Glos, Gloucestershire
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 2:39PM
“New Labour's Shaun is wrong as usual and Mark is correct. It is the New Labour Government which approved the RSS , insisting that major building around here should be in the Central Severn Vale. I disagree with the policy but accuracy is important. I suggest Shaun that before you blindly make statements, you do some research.”
by Mark, Gloucestershire
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 1:26PM
“Mr Shute yet again you have got it wrong it is the Govts RSS that has said where, not the Councils, perhaps before you make remarks that are plain wrong you should check the facts, read the RSS, read Govt policy and then comment. All these permissions were given by a Labour Secretary of State. If this is the sum of your knowledge then it is no wonder that you did not win in Quedgeley.”
by Shaun Shute, Gloucester
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 12:11PM
“It has been the Tory Councils in Stroud and Tewksbury that have planned to dumped houses on the edge of Gloucester despite the risk of flooding.”
by David, Cheltenham
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 9:03AM
“Geenbelt AI is absolutely right...if these decisions are kept local, no houses will be built.”
by Greenbelt Al, Cheltenham
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 8:03AM
“What a waste of money this is! If the government had left these decisions in the hands of local people, it would have been so much cheaper and easier.”