 |
In this section
- Section Home
- News Archive
- Campaigns
 RSS Feeds
- News RSS
- Blog RSS
- Gallery RSS
|
|
 | Lilley Blasts Government 'Blackmail' over Housing |
 |
News Story goes here
12th January 2010
Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, has learned that the government is threatening to cut funds to Luton if the Borough Council does not support a massive housing project to the east of the town, in Hertfordshire.
Last month, the council passed a motion saying it was ‘strongly opposed’ to the scheme, even though it had previously supported it. Peter Lilley said: "The plan to build more than 5,000 homes on beautiful Green Belt land in North Herts infuriated local people and there was much relief when the council did a u-turn and abandoned it. Now, the boss of the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East) has written to the leader of the council saying, in effect, that if the decision is not reversed there will be financial consequences.
It is quite outrageous for government to dictate to a local authority how it deals with its own planning issues. Even worse, the clear message is that if Luton does not toe the line and agree with GO-East, government funding for Luton will be withheld. This is tantamount to blackmail. What sort of government tries to micro-manage every planning decision? This shows a complete disregard for local democracy and local accountability. I shall be raising this in Parliament at the first opportunity to demand an explanation of this bullying. Every council in the country should take note — disagreeing with this government can potentially be very bad news for their financial health and the interests of their residents."
Peter Lilley also expressed his unhappiness at the decision by the Secretary of Stateto give the go ahead for the building of 3,600 houses to the west of Stevenage. "Although not unexpected, the decision creates a damaging precedent, but we will redouble our efforts to present similar erosion of the Green Belt between Hitchin and Luton."
 
| |
