Liberal Democrat councillors on Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) have launched a petition opposing the government’s reintroduction of higher housing targets.
Since the General Election in July, TRDC has been at odds with the ambitious housing proposals put forward by new Labour ministers. This includes a target of 13,300 new homes to be built in the area over the next 18 years.
Now, the Lib Dem councillors have started a petition to try and get the government to budge on their proposals. They have also accused the government of planning to reduce councils’ powers across the country in regard to planning applications.
Leader of TRDC councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: “We opposed the previous Conservative government target of 12,600 as being wrong for Three Rivers. Labour’s is even worse.
“That’s why we came up with a plan to protect the Three Rivers green belt, rated all our green spaces in order to protect them, and allocated every available brownfield site. We have proposed 4,852 as being the right figure for new housing and got residents’ backing for this.
“We will work with anyone to help say no to this ridiculous high figure which would, if agreed, merge communities and mean at least 12,000 new houses in prominent green belt.”
Cllr Giles-Medhurst added that he and deputy leader of TRDC councillor Sarah Nelmes are liaising with Gagan Mohindra, MP for South West Hertfordshire, and the Three Rivers Joint Residents’ Association in opposing the new target.
To view the petition, visit www.tinyurl.com/TR-Green-belt
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.
Photo: Eastbury Horticultural Society
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