Thanks to the Conservatives' poorly though-out plan for an eco-community in Elsenham, nowhere in Uttlesford is now safe from massive new housing developments: the Tories sent entirely the wrong signal to central government. 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:

Three things you can do to let the government know what you think of their eco-town plans

Elsenham Eco Town News

Mon 24th Nov 2008:

Eco-town Back in Uttlesford's Court as Paper says 'It Makes No Sense'

There was something about last Tuesday's meeting of Uttlesford's environment committee that did not ring true, writes Alan Dean. The committee chairman admitted yet again that it was she who championed the idea of Option 4 in the September over a year ago. On Tuesday she said the future of the local development framework (LDF) preferred option rests in the hands of council officers and the study work that they have commissioned on topics such as access and biodiversity. What doesn't square with the real world is that technical consultants' studies usually come up with advice that suits the client's expectations; in this case Uttlesford's Conservative political masters. So what guidance has the Conservative administration at Uttlesford given? To confirm Option 4? To shift from Option 4? Or truly none at all?

Wed 3rd Sep 2008:

Lembit Öpik endorses dispersal option

Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire, and Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, today visited Stansted, Henham, Elsenham and Newport to see for himself the impact that 5000 plus houses in an Ecotown would have on the local community in this beautiful part of north Essex

Wed 30th Jul 2008:

Liberal Democrats Welcome Rural Housing Report

Peter Wilcock, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Saffron Walden, has welcomed a new report setting out how more can be done to provide affordable homes and a vibrant economy in the English countryside.

Sun 27th Jul 2008:

Eco-towns will be out of date by time they are built - Öpik

The Government today announced that homes in eco-towns must achieve the environmental target of level four of the Code for Sustainable Homes, despite the fact that all new housing is to reach the stricter target of level six by 2016. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Lembit Öpik said: "There's surely some mistake here. This means that eco-towns could be less environmentally friendly than normal towns. Instead of setting challenging environmental standards, eco-towns will be out of date by the time they are even built."

Wed 23rd Jul 2008:

Legal advice must sound death knell for eco-towns

Commenting on today's publication of advice from leading lawyers, which claims that local authorities will be able to challenge the Government over its approach to eco-towns, Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Julia Goldsworthy said: "Not only is Gordon Brown's pet eco-towns project facing opposition from residents and councils up and down the country, but now we learn that legal challenges are also likely. This must sound the death knell for this attempt to bypass the local planning process and local public opinion."

Sat 12th Jul 2008:

Government must let local people make planning decisions - Öpik

Commenting on today's report by think tank Centre for Cities, which warns that the Government must do more to involve local people in planning new developments, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Lembit Öpik said: "Today's report simply confirms what we all know - that the Government needs to empower local people to make planning decisions for themselves."

Thu 10th Jul 2008:

Tories Embarassed by Option 4

In a letter to the press, Lib Dem District Councillor for Elsenham & Henham Catherine Dean has blasted Conservative attempts to hide their support for an eco-town at Elsenham.

Mon 30th Jun 2008:

Eco-towns ride roughshod over local authorities - Öpik

With the consultation on eco-towns closing today, the Liberal Democrats have condemned ministers for hijacking local planning processes.

Mon 23rd Jun 2008:

Rural Uttlesford 'Threatened by Conservative and Labour Terrible Twins'

Residents of Elsenham and Henham and neighbouring villages are fighting a double assault on their quality of life from 'terrible twins'; the Labour government and Uttlesford Conservatives.

Wed 18th Jun 2008:

Consensus On New Towns - A Good Start, But More Pressure Needed To Change Plan

Uttlesford's environment committee last night (Tuesday 17 June) affirmed the council's opposition to government inspired eco-towns at Elsenham and Hinxton, Cambs. The committee agreed an amendment proposed by Councillor Catherine Dean of the Liberal Democrats to strengthen the Council's opposition to the Elsenham scheme, saying it was not a brownfield site and that government and developer claims of good access to the location were nonsense.

Tue 3rd Jun 2008:

Fresh Call For Conservatives To Abandon New Town

Uttlesford's Liberal Democrat opposition is again calling on the ruling Conservatives to abandon their new town proposals for the district. At the council's environment committee on June 17th they will propose that the council scraps its plan for a 3,000 plus new town between Elsenham and Henham as well as opposing the government's nearly identical 5,000 home eco-town proposal at the same location.

Sun 27th Apr 2008:

New Homes for Uttlesford - It's Time For A Fresh Start

At the meeting of Uttlesford District Council on Tuesday, 22nd April, the Liberal Democrats proposed the following motion: 'This Council is totally opposed to the development of Eco Towns, both north east of Elsenham and at Hanley Grange as proposed in the Department of Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) consultative paper, "Eco-Towns - Living a greener future" published on Thursday 3 April and will campaign to have these proposals removed from the short list. Furthermore the Council recognises that Option 4 of the Core Strategy consultation, which places 3,000 houses in the same locality, would be less sustainable than the DCLG eco-town proposal, but equally as damaging to the area, and so resolves to withdraw that option from further consideration for its Core Strategy and to restart the LDF options preparation and consultation.'

Tue 15th Apr 2008:

New Homes for Uttlesford - It's Time For A Fresh Start

On Thursday 22nd April, Uttlesford Council will be debating a Conservative motion opposing a 5000-home eco-town at Elsenham. Until the Labour government's bombshell on 3rd. April, the Conservatives were enthusiastically promoting an eco-community of at least 3,000 houses in the same place. Now there is a real danger that Uttlesford will be forced to accept an additional 5000 houses in Elsenham as well as the original 3000 houses. This means that everywhere in Uttlesford is at risk.

Sat 5th Apr 2008:

Nowhere in Uttlesford is now safe!

Elsenham has been short listed for an Eco Town. This would mean an additional 5000 homes for Uttlesford on top of the 4200 homes that the district must already take. Housing Minister Caroline Flint released the list of 15 proposals of which Elsenham is on the list to be considered. Eco Towns must have a minimum of between five and ten thousand houses. The scheme would include 1,800 affordable homes in an area of extreme affordability pressure. There will be a three month consultation on preliminary views on eco-town benefits and the short listed locations. A final decision is due later this year.

Mon 17th Mar 2008:

Tory Housing Plans Delayed By A Year

On Tuesday 11th March, Uttlesford District Council's planning officers told the Council that its housing Core Strategy would not be presented to the Council until the first quarter of 2009. The Council has been inundated with hostile responses to the consultation on its housing strategy. At the meeting, the Conservatives confessed that their previous claim of a 'government-dictated timetable' was untrue.

Earlier Stories

Complete archive on the official site

Saffron Walden Liberal Democrats News Stories, provided by Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/.

(c) 2008 Saffron Walden Liberal Democrats