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THREE PARTIES UNITE ON HUNTS GROVE |
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 21st September 2007
In a dramatic move, leaders of three political groups on Stroud
District Council have united in slamming MP David Drew for putting the
interests of the Labour Party before his own constituents. The row
erupted after the Secretary of State for Constitution and Local
Government called in development proposals at Hunts Grove, Hardwicke.
“We were absolutely amazed at the call-in,” said Council Leader Chas Fellows. “It was obviously political engineering. Parmjit Dhanda is worried about his seat at the next election and his Labour friend is helping him out. The Stroud District will be the loser.”
Cllr Fellows revealed that the call-in could cost council taxpayers over £100,000. Costs will include hiring a top barrister, staff time and the loss of Government grants if the Council fails to meet planning targets when staff are employed on the call-in.
Cllr Philip Booth, Co-ordinator of the Green Group said: "This is a deeply disappointing move by David Drew and Parmjit Dhanda. Whether or not you agree with the allocation at Hunts Grove it has been through a thorough and unbiased consultation. It will now cost the taxpayers money for this politically personal call-in."
Cllr Dennis Andrewartha, Leader of the Council’s Liberal Democrat Group said: “Even more worrying is that these two MPs are riding roughshod over an accepted democratic process.”
Cllr Andrewartha said: "Land at Hunts Grove was allocated for new housing in order to meet targets set by the Labour government. It went through all the proper processes laid down by the Government, including full consultation. It went through the Local Plan Inquiry and was supported by a Government Inspector. “Amazingly, the Hunts Grove allocation which was proposed and supported by Labour councillors has now been called in by Labour MP’s. Personally, I’m keen to see how these two MPs are going to explain their position and why they’re going against their own Minister, Yvette Cooper, who on housing has demanded ‘Delivery…Delivery.’”
The Local Plan was agreed and passed unanimously at a meeting of Stroud District Council on November 10th, 2005. The Hunts Grove allocation has been accepted by the County Council and through the SW Regional Spatial Strategy, after full consultation with all councils and all relevant bodies.
Cllr Philip Booth said: "The alternative to Hunts Grove is dispersal, where every small town and village is forced to take new housing. “This option is just not sustainable with this quantity of houses. This move by the two Labour MPs will only delay Hunts Grove, as I cannot see how it will not go ahead. Worse still, the delay in bringing properties to the market will only serve to boost house-builder’s profits, as fewer homes on the market mean that they can get higher house prices. It will also delay the availability of affordable houses on the site as some 525 were destined to be affordable. The dreadful truth about this Labour member political call-in is that it tramples over true democracy.”
The three leaders have now challenged Labour councillors to come clean with the electorate and tell them where they stand. “They can’t have it all ways,” they said. “Either they put the District and its environment first, or put the Labour Party first.”
Note to Editors:
Hunts Grove ticks all of the right boxes, as laid down by the Government.
It is in a sustainable location
It has been accepted by all organisations
It would provide over 500 affordable houses
It is not in the flood plain
Eco-housing is much more possible on these larger developments
Park and ride has been agreed
There is allocation for a railway station
There will be an education contribution
Improvements to Junction 12 on the M5 motorway were to have been partly funded by this development
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