Dear Eric
Congratulations on your appointment as Secretary of State. It is good to have someone who knows about local government in the role.
In our Manifesto we were proud to include the abolition of regional planning quangos and the top down housing targets. This proposal was one of the most popular parts of the Conservative offer to voters in Wokingham. Local people and the Council would like to have more influence over what we build and where we build it.
I would be grateful to have your reassurance that this will also be the policy of the Coalition government, and that we will be able to make the necessary changes soon so that local councils and communities can start to have the plans they want.
Yours ever
May 18, 2010
John, I hope the new Conservative MP in my constituency is using you as a role model.
May 18, 2010
I await Pickles move on Regions with urgency!
Dont let Pickles of this hook.
May 19, 2010
Dear Mr Redwood and Mr Pickles,
Time is of the essence in terms of the new government confirming the Conservatives' manifesto policy to abolish the South East Housing plan:
The residents of Arborfield, Berkshire are facing the monstrous prospect of a massive new development (3,500 houses, 3 schools, a supermarket, bus station etc……), being built on the beautiful green fields and open spaces around us – completely ruining our small semi rural village, the reason we chose to live here in the first place!
The MOD are saying they won't know move out of the local garrison until 2015 (they've been saying for years that they would move out in "3-4 years time" but it's not happenned to date so why should we believe their latest timeline?).
Instead of waiting for the brown field land on the garrison to become available for development (which the local residents would support), the Conservative run local council (Wokingham BC), are on the point of agreeing proposals that would allow development on the green fields around us. Talk about putting the cart before the horse, the proposal is as mad as it is appalling!
Wokingham BC are blaming the Labour governments' SE housing plan saying they have to comply with it. So please please PLEASE get the housing plan abolished, return power to the local council and enable them & local people to put houses on the brown fields AFTER the army have left.
Regards,
Martin Rutter
Chairman Arborfield Garrison Residents Action Group