Regional Spatial Strategy

A new threat to our local green space has emerged in the shape of a revised Regional Spatial Strategy recommending 2000 extra houses for Lichfield District, 1000 of which are earmarked for “north of Tamworth”.  This almost certainly means the land along the Ashby Road towards Tamworth.  Such a building programme will have a massive impact on people living in the communities on the edge of Tamworth such as in Perrycrofts and Coton Green as well as the village of Wigginton.

In a further blow, 1000 houses in Cannock’s allocation have been assigned to the Lichfield area.  This means Lichfield District Council must find another space for another 1000 houses within the district. It is not clear where these will have to be built but it could affect other parts of the Tamworth constituency within Lichfield District.

I am angered and dismayed at this latest government threat particularly after all the work done by local Conservative councillors to avoid the erosion of our green spaces.  It will be appalling if the government imposes a massive building program like this.  It should be left to local councils and local people to decide. I am not against all house building but it must be sustainable and should be in keeping with the local area. Plans like this are not. They will damage green spaces around Tamworth.  I also do not believe that the north of Tamworth has the infrastructure to cope with such large scale building.  I believe Gordon Brown must listen to local people.  I have asked Caroline Spelman MP, our local government spokesman, to confirm a Conservative government will abolish such regional planning and give the power to decide to local people.

I am copying her response below.  Meanwhile I will campaign hard against these proposals to protect our green spaces.  I will be writing to the Prime Minister and will involve local residents.  I will be in touch again with more information shortly.  To read what is in the Inspector’s report you can go to his link – the specific detail is on page 88 –

<http://www.wmra.gov.uk/documents/wmrssphase2panelreport.pdf>
<http://www.wmra.gov.uk/documents/wmrssphase2panelreport.pdf>
http://www.wmra.gov.uk/documents/wmrssphase2panelreport.pdf

Comment from Caroline Spelman MP, Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government:
“These regional plans are utterly undemocratic and, in some places, environmentally unsustainable. The Conservatives government would scrap the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy and this whole tier of regional planning, and give power back to local communities and ensure that councils are not financially short changed when new homes are built.”