The threat of over-development in our communities is a big concern for local people. I can understand this living in a small village like Shuttington.
Unfortunately in North Warwickshire, the Labour Council took years to put in place a Borough Plan which would allow local control of future housing developments with residents involved in a consultation process.
The Labour Council was criticised by planning inspectors for their planning policy and documents stating they ‘carried little weight’ and were ‘vague, unclear and without policy reference’. As a result in their delays, communities in North Warwickshire were not protected by planning applications which should have been refused.
In Bedworth the Labour Council have delayed submitting their plan until after the general election. This shows that they are playing politics instead of putting local people first. While their plan is not in place Bedworth communities are under threat from developers. The Labour Council has already had to pay £112000 on just 2 planning appeals – that is coming out of taxpayers’ pockets. In Hawkesbury Village the Conservative Government had to step in to stop development on green belt because Labour had not done the job properly.
Labour’s planning failures are impacting on local people; its time they got their act together.
There is a housing need but developments need to be appropriate for the area, with local infrastructure and with public consultation. I also strongly believe that our local green belt should be protected.