MP hits out at Chiltern building plans (From Bucks Free Press)
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Cheryl Gillan MP criticises new home scheme in Chalfont St Peter
1:56pm Saturday 13th February 2010 in News By Andy Carswell
Some of the residents who attended this morning's meeting
JUST eight per cent of Chalfont St Peter residents are not opposed to controversial plans to build up to 400 new homes in the village – with an MP today vowing to scrap housing targets if her party wins the next General Election.
The results of a survey carried out by residents were revealed to more than 300 concerned villagers who packed in to the Chalfont Community College for a public meeting this morning.
It was sparked after Chiltern District Council announced it was considering developing the Holy Cross convent site in the village centre to provide hundreds of new homes.
The council has been ordered to build 2,900 new homes in the district by 2026 – a situation which leader John Warder described as a “raging Tyrannosaurus Rex” earlier this month.
Among the speakers at today’s meeting was Chalfont St Peter’s Tory MP Cheryl Gillan, who said targets for providing new houses would be scrapped if the Conservatives win the next General Election.
She told villagers: “We are pretty full to the seams and we are seeing the key qualities that people value for Chalfont St Peter gradually being eroded.
“The housing targets are top-down, driven targets delivered by the Government.
“If we have a Conservative Government after the next election, we will be getting rid of the Regional Specialist Strategy and the housing targets, which are the basic problem behind this.
“I will be standing full square alongside each and every one of you to make sure this area has the best chance of avoiding anything that will make it a concrete jungle.”
A survey carried out by residents, which was answered by 3,166 people, revealed 92 per cent were opposed to development on the scale being proposed – with 84 per cent not in favour of the Holy Cross site being redeveloped.
However, it also revealed 70 per cent of people would be in favour of a school relocating to Holy Cross and houses being built elsewhere.
Holy Cross is a designated site for educational purposes, and Chalfont St Peter Parish Council chairman Richard Allen called for greater co-operation between Buckinghamshire County Council and Chiltern District Council, who both have responsibility for education.
He said: “Bucks County Council controls the left leg and Chiltern District Council controls the right leg, and I think we are trying to find where the brain is at the moment.”
Mrs Gillan described the report as “the best analysis of local needs I have seen for a long time”.
Chiltern District Council’s cabinet has agreed to hold a full public consultation over the plans, which is likely to begin next month.
Comments(3)
BigTommy
says...
11:02pm Sat 13 Feb 10
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Ask the people of Aylesbury if they support the building of 4,000 new homes in their town and 92% will say "no".
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Ask people who have found out that the house next door is to be changed into 6 flats whether they support the change, and 92% will say "no".
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There is a need for new housing, but those who already have the housing that suits them don't want others to have the same.
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"I'm alright, Jack. Now beggar off and build somewhere else."
Agniesca
says...
10:03am Sun 14 Feb 10
How about trying the converse and give tax breaks to families that stay together
JP80 says...
8:31pm Sat 13 Feb 10
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If we want to keep the green belt and the 'beautiful Chilterns' we have to accept that prime land within towns has to be built on. The Holy Cross site is a perfect example of space which currently is totally wasted.
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Local shops will benefit and new housing estates will look far better than some areas of CSP already look.
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And Cheryl, you might just find that some of those buying new houses might be Tory voters.... and a lot younger than those who seem to take part in these votes...