Lib Dems Call For Alternative Vision To Housing Strategy (West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats)

West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats <contact.us@westworcslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Call For Alternative Vision To Housing Strategy

April 21, 2009 10:50 AM

Leading Liberal Democrats are calling for a joint campaign to unify all the communities opposed to the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for housing development in South Worcestershire.

The move follows a public meeting in Broadheath Village Hall last night where nearly 200 residents expressed their opposition to the plans.

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt attended the meeting and vowed to take their campaign forward.

Richard said: "Residents attending packed public meetings in Kempsey, Hallow, Malvern and now Broadheath have been united in their rejection of these proposals to shoehorn an extra 11,500 homes into the district.

"Each community is desperately seeking ways to defeat the plans, but they are tackling a huge bureaucratic juggernaut that will eventually roll over their objections.

"We need to bring together the passion and the commitment I have seen across the district and just say no to the RSS. We must also provide an alternative vision for housing growth in South Worcestershire.

"Many of the ideas that have come out of the meetings could provide the basis for an alternative vision with community support. The fact is no-one supports these current housing plans and they will be a disaster for South Worcestershire if they are adopted."

Councillor Tom Wells is backing the move and said: "We need to make common cause on this otherwise the bureaucrats will just pick off the objections from each area and each village in turn.

"We need to present a united front and lobby councillors, ministers and officials to dump these dreadful plans.

"It's time to call a halt to the RSS madness. The proposed mass development of open countryside surrounding Worcester and Malvern would constitute wilful and deliberate environmental vandalism.

"Instead, local councils must be given time to carry out a full audit of brownfield sites in South Worcestershire and wherever possible allocate housing to such locations.

"A recent county council report has identified a shortfall of £178million for the essential infrastructure requirements such as roads, schools and healthcare provision. Until that money is found, no decision should be made about housing.

"I will be working with Richard to arrange a meeting to draw people together from across the district in the very near future."