Local Councils Are Ultimately To Blame For City Expansion Bid In Broadheath

10.12.00am GMT Sun 24th Jan 2010

Representatives of Bloor Homes were left in no doubt as to the opposition of Broadheath residents who flocked in their hundreds to Broadheath Village Hall last Saturday to see their plans for a New Town the size of Pershore on their doorstep.

Richard Burt, who attended the exhibition, spoke to many residents who said they were angry about the prospect of losing their village to become part of a greater Worcester City.

But West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate also blamed local councils for the Bloor homes bid, saying they were 'collectively responsible'.

Richard said: "Bloor Homes' application to build up to 3,950 houses here would destroy the village of Broadheath and turn the entire area into a city suburb.

"This application is the inevitable consequence of decisions on our Conservative-controlled councils to promote Worcester City as a sub-regional focus for growth within the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.

"Because they chose to promote Worcester for expansion in return for vague promises of inward investment, Worcester City was allocated 10,500 extra houses, of which 7,500 will now have to be built in Malvern Hills and Wychavon districts.

"These extra houses could have gone anywhere in the West Midlands, but despite all the obvious drawbacks with the river, transport links and lack of space, they still opted to promote Worcester City for expansion.

"This lack of foresight amounts to a dereliction of duty by senior councillors.

"Without the rush for growth, there would be no Bloor Homes application today because there would be no need for overspill development.

"Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg has promised to scrap regional and national housing targets and given a genuine commitment to local determination on future housing need."