Eco-Towns: Conservatives Must Show Contrition

Written by Councillor David Morson and published in the Herts & Essex Observer, 17th April 2008 on Sun 27th Apr 2008

"Rather than putting a strain on the infrastructure of other established communities, creating a new community has become a realistic option, particularly as Government guidelines have changed and now regard communities of 5,000 as sustainable." These were the words of Cllr Jim Ketteridge, Leader of Uttlesford District Council, in an official Council press release on 7 September 2007 as justification for Cllr Susan Barker's Option 4 'Helshenham' 3000-home eco-settlement, supported in a Conservative Party meeting three days earlier.

The Conservatives dismissed the whole Council and much of the District with their hitherto secret plan last autumn. For them now to express shock and anger when the Westminster Government has taken them at their word by designating 'Helshenham' an eco-town in a national competition is ironic.

Since September the Liberal Democrats have been criticized on numerous occasions by the very same parliamentarians, councillors and Conservative-supporting residents who now are saying they oppose an eco-town because it is a Westminster politicians' term, yet continue to support an eco-settlement because that is a local politicians' term for the same thing.

The Conservatives attacked Liberal Democrat Councillors because we repeatedly requested discussion with parish and town communities about the distribution of some 4,000 homes across existing communities. We didn't like the unreserved approach of locating most between Elsenham and Henham at the end of narrow, winding roads, out of sight of most of the District. Now we may be faced with an enforced 5,000 plus home eco-town between Elsenhaman and Henham, and still have to locate the original 4,000 plus homes that the Conservatives still keep saying they do not want.

Throughout the summer, Liberal Democrat Councillors were calling for cross-party discussions with the local community, based on the pros and cons of housing and job growth in our towns and villages. Those discussions were blocked. 'There wasn't time', 'It was too costly' were reasons given. The Conservatives wanted to make policy in their private group meetings. As on so many other matters, they said, 'leave it to us', associating Conservative Group policy with Council policy.

Two weeks ago, the eco-town proposal was announced by the Government. Suddenly, the Conservatives wanted everyone to be their friends to help them fight Westminster. They want the villages of Elsenham and Henham on their side against an eco-town, yet, at the same time, the eco-settlement remains the Council's preferred option. The Conservatives now want the Liberal Democrats to work with them to oppose the 'Labour Plan' but, up to last weekend, have refused to meet with us until an hour before the Full Council Meeting on 22 April when the Council will debate their unilaterally tabled anti-Government motion. This is so reminiscent of last September when they intimated, 'Agree with us. Don't ask questions."

Your paper last week refers to 'perplexed villagers and their frustrated Liberal Democrat backers.' How right! It has been suggested that the Liberal Democrats must try to work with the Conservatives to find a way forward. How right also. But the Conservatives are in denial and their press statements are muddled. One day their County Council colleagues were for the new town, the next day, against. The Conservatives continued support for Option 4 quoted in the government's pre ample for including Elsenham, makes it difficult for the District Council to credibly oppose the proposed eco-town. Fairfield have also recorded this support in their documentation. Hopefully, the results of the consultation process will enable the Conservatives will be in a position to disavow Option 4, leaving the Council in a much stronger position in their opposition to the Government.

These barriers of disbelief and distrust must be abolished. The failure of internal dialogue across the Council must be repaired. The need to communicate only through local newspapers must be removed. The desire on the part of Uttlesford Conservatives to present final solutions without talking to anyone else in advance is what got us all where we are today. There is a better way. It is called 'contrition', followed by frank, open and conclusive dialogue about the future. May it begin this week?

Cllr David Morson

Crow Street

Henham