Uttlesford Lib Dems Say Come Clean on Planning Delay

11.31.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Sep 2009

Uttlesford Conservatives' proposed new town in Elsenham and Henham.

Uttlesford council's Conservative leader, Cllr Jim Ketteridge, has again been urged to come clean over slow progress with the district's Local Development Framework (LDF) after Lib Dems discovered a letter from Westminster encouraging Tory councils to adopt a 'go slow' on housing plans.

Last week five Liberal Democrat councillors had asked Cllr Ketteridge in an open letter to explain why progress on Uttlesford's future housing and related plans had slowed to a snail's pace and why internal discussions between members and officers diaried for last week had been cancelled.

In response, Cllr Ketteridge denied any personal role in the slow pace of the district's planning process. Yet within hours of this denial a letter sent to all Conservative council leaders by Caroline Spelman MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, was acquired by the Liberal Democrats. The letter encourages Conservative-controlled councils to put on the brakes to slow down the local planning process. Ms Spelman wrote in August: "a slightly delayed Local Development Framework process will make the democratic choice at the general election more stark and clear for the electorate ".

Elsenham and Henham councillor David Morson commented: "The Tories seem to be trying to give the false impression that the need for new homes will evaporate if there is a Tory government and that delaying the LDF's preparation will provide an escape route from the mess that local Tories have created.

"They should get on now and finish the job they started two years ago rather than leaving this area blighted with uncertainty over new towns."

Stansted councillor Alan Dean added: "It's time for Jim Ketteridge to come clean with the residents of Uttlesford. He is allowing at Uttlesford what Caroline Spelman suggests - drift and delay.

"The Tories messed up in a big way two years ago with their new town idea at Elsenham. They keep promising technical reports that will resolve the uncertainty. These rarely materialize. They keep promising discussions for councillors. These get cancelled. They promised more public consultation this autumn. It's off until next year. The council is paralysed, I am sorry to have to say."

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