AN OPEN letter to Sir Alan HaselhurstUttlesford s Conservative leadership under Jim Ketteridge and Howard Rolfe has spearheaded the 3000 homes eco-town between Elsenham and Henham. Yet housing minister Yvette Cooper requires eco-towns to be small new to
AN OPEN letter to Sir Alan HaselhurstUttlesford's Conservative leadership under Jim Ketteridge and Howard Rolfe has spearheaded the 3000 homes eco-town between Elsenham and Henham.
Yet housing minister Yvette Cooper requires eco-towns to be 'small new towns of at least 5-20,000 homes'.
Careful extensions of existing towns and villages can be carried out gradually. An eco-town must grow quickly to become sustainable with schools, shops, medical and other amenities.
So 'Elsenham' would probably exceed 5000 homes well before 2020 and continue to grow rapidly. 3000 homes between now and 2024 would not be enough to meet the minister's criteria.
You have offered to arrange a meeting with Yvette Cooper to reduce Uttlesford's housing allocation. But will Cllr Ketteridge and the Conservative team instead be telling Yvette Cooper they want far more to make their eco-town work?
We have been waiting since July to discuss a more sensible approach to housing needs and the planning challenge it presents. Would you be able to facilitate these local discussions?
Cllr Peter Wilcock
Leader of the LibDem Group at Uttlesford
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