Castle Point councillors Pam Challis and Jeffrey Stanley are wringing their hands in despair (May 27) over an inspector’s report tearing to pieces their proposed planning strategy, with the attendant prospect of sacrificing more green belt to housing.
They have only themselves to blame.
The previous Government imposed unrealistic housing requirements on Castle Point and councillors in Castle Point blamed minister John Prescott.
When the new Government promised to revoke these draconian targets, what did the cabinet do? It incorporated into its proposed strategy, without question, exactly the same housing numbers as previously demanded. Now whose fault is it?
In my response to the inquiry into this strategy, I quoted the council’s own statistics which show that a total of 2,040 new homes are needed between 2011 and 2026 to accommodate our local needs, which, when added to the 1,550 already completed, makes a total for the plan period 2001 to 2026 of 3,590 dwellings.
So why did Mrs Challis and her colleagues on the cabinet vote to call for 5,000 new homes? Who are the extra houses for? We do not have room in the urban area for 5,000 more houses.
The residents have been shouting this loud and clear ever since the council first consulted on the proposed strategy.
Would our councillors listen?
Of course not.
B J Brazier
Warren Chase
Thundersley
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