'Should heads roll?", ask angry local residents as eco-town tragedy turns to farce

Published on Sun 6th Apr 2008

The past three days have been a surreal experience for residents of Elsenham, Henham and the rest of Uttlesford district. There are the beginnings of a grass-roots mood that heads should roll at Uttlesford District Council. What do you think? See the opinion poll at: http://saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/

Thursday started badly with Whitehall's announcement of a so-called eco-town named North East Elsenham of 5000-plus homes, which the government rightly claims is backed by Uttlesford District Council's preferred option (Option 4) for 3000-plus homes at the same site. Later in the day the council's press release distanced itself from the eco-town. Uttlesford's environment committee chairman attacked the government for 'riding roughshod' over the council's own plans for an eco-community. The local county councillor made a commitment that Essex County Council was right behind Uttlesford in fighting the government.

Friday saw a series of bizarre events unfold. The day dawned with a congregation of Conservative councillors supported by the Saffron Walden MP at Elsenham railway station protesting 'with villagers' in front of journalists and television cameras. They were joined by a similar number of Liberal Democrat councillors. Many villagers showed their anger at what they saw as Tory 'hypocrisy'. They attacked them for encouraging the government's scheme by proposing Option 4 and for blatant inconsistency. One resident asked the environment committee chair what she would do if the council had proposed a new town near her home. She replied she would 'sell up and move'. The anger intensified. Many residents couldn't believe that councillors who only two weeks earlier had refused to take a tour of the area when invited by the Observer newspaper could overnight be attempting to cosy up to the locals.

That wasn't all. On Friday afternoon it was discovered that Essex County Council had issued a press release (see below) that 'cautiously welcomed' the eco-town. Subsequently it was heard informally that the quoted Essex cabinet member might be on the verge of declaring his opposition to the Elsenham eco-town on the grounds that it is an unsuitable location. The muddle within Conservative circles was confirmed.

Liberal Democrats remained committed to somehow finding a way to work with the Tories to defeat both Option 4 and the eco-town proposal but remain perplexed about how to go about it when there is so much inconsistency and apparent opportunism.

Villagers left Friday's morning's demonstration muttering that heads should roll at Uttlesford; wondering whether leading Conservatives would resign or even whether the whole Conservative group would offer themselves for re-election in the near future in an attempt to confirm the confidence of the Uttlesford community in them.

Do you think the environment committee chairman, Cllr Susan Barker, should resign? See the on-line poll at http://saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk/

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Essex County Council's press release is reproduced here:

From: Emily Banfield Communications Officer

To: undisclosed-recipients:

Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 3:04 PM

Subject: ECC press release

please see the following press release from Essex County Council

ECO TOWNS NOT GHOST TOWNS

Essex County Council's planning chief has today cautiously welcomed news that an Essex town has made the Government's eco-town shortlist.

But Councillor John Jowers, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Localism and Planning, has warned that without the necessary infrastructure, an eco-town in Elsenham could become little more than a ghost town, empty during the day and only populated at night.

The Councillor also expressed concern that the Government may circumvent the usual planning procedures in order to fast track the scheme.

He said: "While Essex County Council supports the twin objectives of eco-towns in driving down carbon emissions and tackling the need for more affordable housing, it is vital that the proposed locations are thoroughly examined and all consequences investigated."

He added: "Elsenham is a beautiful, rural part of the Essex countryside which is being threatened by the Stansted expansion and the widening of the M11. The town is only served by a tiny rural railway station and poor road network. In order to create a truly sustainable new community in the area full infrastructure is of utmost importance. What is also necessary at this stage is that a full public consultation is carried out with all local communities.

"We also call for further clarification on exactly what planning processes the final shortlisted areas will be subjected to. We will certainly oppose any attempt by Government to circumvent proper planning procedures. "

ENDS

Media contact Emily Banfield 01245 430096.