The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed an eco-community at Elsenham on sound planning grounds. We are calling on Uttlesford's ruling Conservative councillors to work with councillors from all other parties, in order to find a solution to this dreadful - and entirely avoidable - mess.

Two things you can do to let the Conservatives know what you think of their eco-community plan:

Elsenham Eco Town News

Mon 23rd Aug 2010:

It's time the Tories ditched their new town plan

In a letter to local newpapers, Uttlesford Liberal Democrats' planning spokesman Councillor Catherine Dean writes "The scrapping of the targets for the number of new houses to be built in Uttlesford, which had been imposed by the Regional Planning Panel, gives Uttlesford District Council the opportunity to decide what level of housebuilding is appropriate. The Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition Government announcement that all new housing developments should have the support of local communities also gives the opportunity to reject a new settlement anywhere in the District, which from the start was the least popular option."

Sun 14th Mar 2010:

Council's new housing consultation is seriously flawed

In a letter to the local press, Councillor Catherine Dean writes "Last month Uttlesford District Council published a consultation about housing growth, which includes an assessment of the pros and cons of various options for new housing. The basis of the Council's analysis is flawed, because there has been no decision made by councillors as to what factors matter most or least in deciding what makes a good place to live. For example, the Council's consultation document gives equal value to the availability of water supplies, drainage and cultural facilities. Cultural facilities can be built with relative ease, but, as King Canute showed, water is very hard to control. The Elsenham/Henham option has serious problems with water supplies and drainage."

Sat 5th Dec 2009:

Council meeting gives go-ahead for fresh housing consultation

Last week's environment committee meeting at Uttlesford District Council saw all possible housing options back on the table - ranging from the concentrated Option 4 new settlement approach (preferred by local Conservatives) to a dispersal strategy across all towns and most villages (preferred by local Liberal Democrats). However, Option 4 of 3,000 homes at Elsenham plus 1,000 homes dispersed to various settlements still remains the Conservative-led council's officially preferred option. A report on the meeting can be read at Alan Dean's blog: http://alandean.mycouncillor.org.uk/

Wed 2nd Dec 2009:

Parliamentary Candidate Slams Eco Town at Saffron Walden AGM

"Liberal Democrats can look forward to 2010 with optimism," said local parliamentary candidate Peter Wilcock at the Annual General Meeting of Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats on 27th November. "Opinion polls consistently show that Labour is likely to lose the general election that must, by law, be held within the first half of 2010, but they do not show the commanding lead that the Conservatives need to be sure of an overall majority. Polls also show that, under Nick Clegg, the Lib Dems are now much stronger than at this point in previous parliaments."

Mon 23rd Nov 2009:

Conservative Plan For Elsenham Eco Town Put In Doubt By Council's Own Reports

Long-awaited technical reports on Uttlesford District Council's development plans (the "Local Development Framework") have been emerging in November. These reports indicate that the Conservative plan for a new town at Elsenham would be badly located. Of all the locations that have been put forward by landowners for a new settlement, Great Chesterford has been given the most favourable score in the transport assessment report. Traffic from an Elsenham new town would have to be directed via Takeley with some road improvements. The last time the Council consulted local residents on where to put new homes in Uttlesford, a new settlement (Option 4) came bottom of the poll.

Thu 1st Oct 2009:

Conservatives can't abolish people who need houses

In reply to Jonathan Rich of Stansted Conservatives, who recently wrote to the Herts & Essex Observer, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Peter Wilcock said "The Conservatives may be able to abolish regional housing quotas but they can't abolish the hundreds of local people who need homes. Conservative-led Uttlesford District Council is falling behind its own timetable for deciding where to put new housing in our district. At least Mr Rich is honest enough to admit it.

Fri 11th Sep 2009:

PRESS TELLS TORY COUNCIL 'GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER'

The following editorial appears in this week's Observer alongside two readers' letter which both attack Cllr Jim Ketteridge, Tory leader of Uttlesford DC, for saying that the LDF study work is taking so long because it has to be done thoroughly. They ask why the Tories didn't get the evidence before coming up with their plan for a new town at Elsenham.

Mon 7th Sep 2009:

Uttlesford Lib Dems Say Come Clean on Planning Delay

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.

Mon 31st Aug 2009:

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LEADER OF UTTLESFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL, COUNCILLOR JIM KETTERIDGE

The editorial comment column in the Dunmow and Stansted Observer of 27 August called for planning of homes in Uttlesford for our children's future to be based on 'clear evidence and objective evaluation' without the 'suspicion of politics governing planning'. We agree. In fact we have been calling for an open and informed debate on the location of housing in the Uttlesford district for over two years. The undersigned elected members of the council and the public of Uttlesford have so far been denied that opportunity.

Thu 20th Aug 2009:

Tories try to hide the facts about new housing in Uttlesford

The Conservatives who run Uttlesford District Council have been accused of trying to hide the true facts about their plans for new housing in the district. The claim was made by Cllr. Peter Wilcock, the leader of the council's opposition Liberal Democrat group. Councillor Wilcock said:

Mon 8th Jun 2009:

Labour is finished in Essex - Lib Dems are now the official opposition

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating a significant increase in councillors at County Hall and the re-election of this area's Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff.

Sat 2nd May 2009:

Tories Voted For Uttlesford's Housing Quota

It is a sign of Uttlesford Conservatives' desperation that they are relying on a change of government to get them out of a situation caused by their own ineptitude. Cllr Rolfe says that "neither Cllr Ketteridge, Barker or any member of the Conservative UDC group has supported 4,200 extra houses" Well memories are short, and Cllr Howard Rolfe was not on the Council at the time, but the Council Minutes of January 2005 clearly state that the vote to accept the housing allocation from the Regional Assembly was unanimous. Councillors Barker and Ketteridge were present and voted. It is not Cllr Peter Wilcock who is being "parsimonious with reality", but Cllr Rolfe.

Wed 18th Mar 2009:

Robust Rebuttal of Elsenham Eco-town to be Made

Uttlesford's environment committee last night (Tuesday 17 March) started to live up to the council's public commitment made in April last year to oppose totally and to campaign against an eco-town between Elsenham and Henham. This turn of events was the result of a proposal from Liberal Democrat councillors Catherine and Alan Dean. Until two weeks ago, and before the Liberal Democrats and the Save our Village campaigners started to put on pressure, the council's only response to the latest consultation on Eco towns was to be a short two paragraphs saying virtually nothing about why North East Elsenham was the wrong location for a large, new settlement.

Sat 14th Mar 2009:

Uttlesford District Council To Discuss Eco-Town On 17 March

Uttlesford District Council's environment committee is to address the government's present consultation on eco-towns at its meeting at 7.30 p.m. next Tuesday, March 17th. You can find the agenda and paper for item 7 at:

Fri 30th Jan 2009:

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

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

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