'Save us from new towns!', say local residents

10.12.00pm GMT Fri 30th Jan 2009

In a recent residents' survey people in Uttlesford have given another 'thumbs down' to plans for new towns in the district.

The survey was conducted by Liberal Democrat councillors and was returned by several hundred residents and supporters of all political parties from across the district from Saffron Walden to Stansted.

An overwhelming 85% of local people said they supported housing growth in all towns and villages of the district to provide homes where people want to live and to support local amenities such as shops and schools.

Only 10% of respondents supported the plans by local Conservatives and the Labour government for a new town between Elsenham and Henham.

The survey was organised by Uttlesford councillors Alan Dean and Peter Wilcock. Alan Dean commented: "There is fierce opposition across the whole district to the new town plan at Elsenham; as strong as the rejection by the villagers of Elsenham and Henham.

"The latest unwelcome suggestion from regional consultants for a 20,000-plus large, new town in the Dunmow-Takeley area has been encouraged by the council's open-door approach to new settlements. The drive for the Elsenham new town came from the council's Conservatives - particularly Conservatives from the Dunmow and Takeley areas.

"If the recent consultants' report is allowed to gain acceptance, the Tories' foolish bit of Nimbyism, to dump the homes where they thought no one cared, will have backfired in a spectacular and tragic way."

At last week's meeting of Uttlesford's environment committee Cllr Dean called for all party talks on a new strategy for future housing distribution. The Conservatives were unwilling to take up the Liberal Democrat olive branch. Alan Dean added: "The Tories seem paralysed and incapable of accepting help to get them out of the hole they have dug for the entire district. It's time they started listening to what local people are telling them through this survey, because it will soon be too late".