30/04/09 - Full Council Debates Plans For 3500 Extra Homes Adjacent To North & West Swindon

The following motion was debated at Full Council:

Proposed: Councillor Keith Williams (Conservative - Shaw & Nine Elms)
Seconded: Councillor Nick Martin (Conservative - Shaw & Nine Elms)

"This Council notes that the Labour government's Regional Spatial Strategy requires 3,000 instead of 1,000 homes to be built to the north of Sparcells and to the West & South West of Moulden Hill, (to the immediate west and north west of Swindon) - an area that is presently green fields and open space.

This Council further notes that although residents of this new development will end up using Swindon's schools, roads and other services, this Council receive negligible, if any, additional funds from section 106 payments or Council Tax, to upgrade the Borough's infrastructure to cope with the unnecessary development.  Furthermore, this Council notes that for the past 10 years there has been a consistent pattern of government under-investment in infrastructure to support the expansion of Swindon.

Therefore, this Council request that the Leader of the Council write to the borough's two present Members of Parliament inviting them to support the principle that future development should not occur until and unless sufficient, timely funding for new infrastructure has been provided and to request that they outline how the government intends to make this necessary funding available.''

In a recorded vote all Conservative Councillors supported this motion, whilst the Labour Councillors abstained.

Disgracefully the out of touch Labour Councillors claimed the Northern Sector had been well funded for infrastructure.  This shows how they will always put their loyalty to Labour before local residents.  No wonder without failure Labour get hammered in the local elections, year after year in Abbey Meads.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "As a local resident myself I am totally against the Labour government's plans to concrete over every last bit of green space. 

In addition, we already know the pressure on our local schools, roads and facilities is at maximum capacity - an additional 3500 houses simply can not be absorbed without a major impact.

We will do all we can to fight Labour's disgraceful plans.''

The Labour MP for North Swindon has put across a muddled position on this crucial issue.

Firstly he was reported in the local media as in favour as he argued there was need for more social housing in Swindon.  Facing a public backlash his stance was changed to 'having not had time to consider the merits of the scheme'.  When interviewed on the radio he claimed the development was in the control of Swindon Borough Council - a staggeringly clueless response as the land is in North Wilts, not Swindon.  How is our MP meant to represent us when he does not even know the area he represents?