Thursday 18 August 2011

Lib Dems Keep Hedge End in the Dark

Lib Dems did not want members of the public at the Town Council meeting to discuss the new housing plans for Hedge End.  As I blogged on 1st August, the discussion was deemed to be exempt business under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 after Council Leader Keith House decreed that any briefing by council officials had to be confidential, and that section of the meeting was not recorded in the official minutes.

It's a pity, because I thought I asked some pretty pertinent questions:
 
Q. It is clear that 1,000 houses at Woodhouse Lane and possibly 1,400 at Boorley Green will put unsustainable strain on the Maypole Roundabout and roads to the M27.   Will the planned housing bring in sufficient developers' contributions to improve those roads, or will Hedge End be asked to accept even more housing in order to generate funds for the increased road capacity?

A. #### CENSORED BY LIB DEMS ####

Q. People moving into the new housing at Hedge End will need somewhere to work.  If 1,000 houses are built on our green fields, will Hedge End have to sacrifice even more countryside for employment purposes?

A. #### CENSORED BY LIB DEMS ####

Q. In addition to the three major strategic sites, Eastleigh is looking to build 1,000 more houses across the whole borough on "small" green field sites.  In the interest of fairness, why should any of these 1,000 additional houses be targeted on the Hedge End, West End and Botley area, which is already going to take 2,400?

A. #### CENSORED BY LIB DEMS ####

Q. In the Strategic Land Availability Assessment, all the sites in Hedge End which are close to the motorway are considered  inappropriate for housing.  Yet in neighbouring West End, the Council has permitted housing right up to the motorway with approprate noise mitigation.  Why do different standards apply?

A. #### CENSORED BY LIB DEMS ####

Next time Lib Dem candidates come knocking on your door, see if you can get an answer from them. 

2 comments:

  1. I thought the Lib Dem slogan was 'open and honest'government. There seems to be nothing open or honest about these tactics. As a resident, I would like answers to the perfectly reasonable questions posed above. If the Lib Dems are not prepared to provide such, then it confirms that their motives are suspect. All of our worthy councillors are colluding as no-one has been prepared to express an opinion. I am contacting my councillors to see whether (a) they have an opinion and (b) whether I get the courtesy of a reply.

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  2. @Vocal Local - Do let us know how you get on.

    ReplyDelete