Critics say green belt protection cannot be ensured by Castle Point MP’s new party (From Echo)
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Critics say green belt protection cannot be ensured by Castle Point MP’s new party
9:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in
POLITICIANS hoping to oust Castle Point MP Bob Spink have branded his new political party foolish and ineffective at protecting the borough’s green belt.
Conservative candidate Rebecca Harris and Labour man Julian Ware-Lane are both hoping to win Dr Spink’s seat at the forthcoming general election.
Last week, Dr Spink launched the Independent Save Our Green Belt Party and announced plans to field eight candidates in the borough council elections.
The party promises to protect Castle Point’s green belt.
But Mrs Harris said even if the party did win local council seats, its members could not guarantee green belt land will be preseved.
Under current law, if the council has not demonstrated a big enough supply of land to meet housing targets over the next five years, developers are likely to win an appeal to build on the green belt.
Mrs Harris said: “Local councillors can’t change national planning law and if they think they can, they’re fooling themselves. If they know they can’t, they’re fooling the electorate by claiming they can.”
The Government has set Castle Point Council a target of finding land for 5,000 new homes in the borough by 2026.
Mrs Harris added: “The whole concept of targets must go. We will abolish them and leave it up to local people to decide what housing they want and where.
“Councils can alter their local plans and remove sites provided they haven’t already got planning permission.”
In total 400 homes are planned for Canvey’s green belt, while land near to The Chase, Thundersley, has been earmarked for up to 300 homes under the council’s core strategy or local plan, which sets out how to meet the housing targets.
Mr Ware-Lane said: “It’s wrong to claim the green belt is under threat because of Labour party policy. I don’t think the core strategy is good enough. We believe there are enough brownfield sites to meet the target.
“Scrapping housing targets would deal a real blow to all those people who want to buy a house but can’t afford it.”
However, Mr Ware-Lane agrees a vote for the new party would be wasted.
He added: “It is a fringe party. If you want a bigger say in what’s going on locally you need an MP who’s speaking for either the party in Government or the main opposition.”
Comments(21)
shortybells
says...
10:04am Wed 17 Mar 10
Can someone confirm this?.
Oricle
says...
10:48am Wed 17 Mar 10
lifelongislander
says...
11:13am Wed 17 Mar 10
WHY
says...
11:20am Wed 17 Mar 10
Labour are causing these Current issues and do not seem want to change things.
Brown Field sites we have been told by the Officers at Runnymede are already taken in to the calculation so there are not enough, a list of sites that are in the calculation would be helpfull.
The Conservatives have promised in writing that they will revoke any Greenbelt development and allow Local councils to set housing targets and locations.
Then its the biggest problem getting the Officers at the Council to comply, with the new Officer in charge things should now improve.
and maybe be even the word Manor Trading can be spoken in Kiln Road.
shortybells
says...
11:25am Wed 17 Mar 10
.
You talk about things on here that you have absolutely no comprehension about what so ever and it's getting embarrassing reading your one sided partisanship.
You really are a bit of a chump.
ADSUM
says...
11:26am Wed 17 Mar 10
lifelongislander
says...
11:27am Wed 17 Mar 10
shortybells
says...
11:29am Wed 17 Mar 10
ADSUM wrote:That sums up Bob Spink to a tee. He replies on something inconsequential and of no importance. But is strangely silent on the important issues.
I have twice sent an e-mail to Mrs Harris regarding her views on the reinstatement of fox hunting. No replies. Bob Spink replied straight away with his views. Dr. Spink listens and not just when an election is due.
Discouraged
says...
11:43am Wed 17 Mar 10
Cambrensis
says...
11:53am Wed 17 Mar 10
WHY
says...
12:14pm Wed 17 Mar 10
woodsman
says...
12:17pm Wed 17 Mar 10
It would be better if they all jumoped ship and came out and admirtted that national policy is needing to be changed. I am amazed Spink has gone quiet perhaops he realises he is wrong ()again) and has been found out. He has NEVER attended any thing todo with local campaigns but has stolen the local campaigners logos etc to try and make out he is involved!
WHY
says...
12:39pm Wed 17 Mar 10
woodsman wrote:Quite right Woodsman
One of the candidates has jumped already! As others say the real campaigners have distanced themselves from this so called party. A Independent has no value, they cannot change what is government policy and at last people are seeing that. It is a Labour policy that has to be cancelled out. Spink will not be able to do that, locally we cannot do that it has to be national government. So when the policy is cancelled what will the candidates do if elected, stand down job done? They have no other policies to talk about and no experience of local government and legislation. It would be better if they all jumoped ship and came out and admirtted that national policy is needing to be changed. I am amazed Spink has gone quiet perhaops he realises he is wrong ()again) and has been found out. He has NEVER attended any thing todo with local campaigns but has stolen the local campaigners logos etc to try and make out he is involved!
Quite right
upset
says...
9:10pm Wed 17 Mar 10
lifelongislander wrote:It seems that you are either very gullible or cant see the wood for the trees.
Any party promise before an election will mean nothing after whether it is in writing or not!
How can you be supportive of Independent MP/Councillors who have little or nothing to show for their time in office, so therefore cant be trusted to be any better in the future?
Yet you say any party (aimed at the Tories) can promise in writing anything but you don't trust them?
lifelongislander
says...
10:21am Thu 18 Mar 10
shortybells
says...
12:10pm Thu 18 Mar 10
lifelongislander wrote:LifelongBoring.
Upset: you would need to actually attend ward meetings to see how hard the Independents try to make a difference. At every point they are blocked/marginalised by the mainland Borough but they still persevere and they do make a difference. And they do listen to what the residents want.
We saw how hard they worked when they couldn't be bothered to turn up at the council meeting to discuss or present an alternative budget.
upset
says...
1:47pm Thu 18 Mar 10
lifelongislander wrote:Ward meetings are just talking shops, as you say they just listen and try to make a difference.
Upset: you would need to actually attend ward meetings to see how hard the Independents try to make a difference. At every point they are blocked/marginalised by the mainland Borough but they still persevere and they do make a difference. And they do listen to what the residents want.
Why not vote for a party that make a difference and not just talk about it?
I think your reply proves my point.
Sim0n
says...
5:30pm Thu 18 Mar 10
I also attend the Council meetings and Canvey do not always come off worse or get the dirty end of the stick as others here are saying.
Regeneration Canvey is ahead of Hadleigh.
Paddocks and Waterside are getting alot of money alright there are issues over the paddling pool, but thats not political it was the Officers putting it across as not viable, with massive cost of repairs and up keep.
Green belt is an issue and the mainland came off better at the moment, but we have to wait and see.
John T Pharro
says...
10:50pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Neil Davidson wrote:Of course Mr Davidson it could be anticipated who you would say that, but who is the wally?
A schoolboy error from Spink he has misjudged the public mood here. The main parties are right, a single independent MP could never stop greenbelt development on his own and the Tory minister has already said that they will protect greenbelt once in government. The real greenbelt campaigners have all distanced themselves from Spinks Green Party and they are the core of his anticipated vote. What a wally!
Were not you so critical of those who supported Bob Spink on the removal of the paddling pool on Canvey seafront?
Now guess who is oppossed to it's removal? Your Conservative prospective candidate!!
Politically expedianent or what?
Do you seriously think your Conservative Candidate will oppose her party whip if Castle Point greenbelt was under threat from her party?
Dream on!!
John T Pharro
says...
10:57pm Sat 20 Mar 10
shortybells wrote:What have you asked him that you think important he has not replied to?
ADSUM wrote: I have twice sent an e-mail to Mrs Harris regarding her views on the reinstatement of fox hunting. No replies. Bob Spink replied straight away with his views. Dr. Spink listens and not just when an election is due.That sums up Bob Spink to a tee. He replies on something inconsequential and of no importance. But is strangely silent on the important issues.
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Neil Davidson says...
9:54am Wed 17 Mar 10
The real greenbelt campaigners have all distanced themselves from Spinks Green Party and they are the core of his anticipated vote.
What a wally!