TOP Tory and former Henham resident Caroline Spelman has become embroiled in a political row over new homes for Uttlesford.
The Liberal Democrats have accused her of urging the council’s Conservative administration to “go slow” on planning thousands of extra dwellings as part of the local development framework (LDF), including 3,000 favoured by the Tories in the village where she was brought up.
A letter written by the MP for Meriden and Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has been revealed by the district’s opposition party.
In her message to council leaders, she outlines the Tories’ plans to abolish regional planning and urges the party faithful to boost the chances of defeating Labour by delaying difficult decisions.
The former Herts and Essex High School student said: “A slightly delayed development framework process will make the democratic choice at the general election more stark and clear for the electorate.”
However, last week Uttlesford’s Tory leader Councillor Jim Ketteridge categorically denied a series of hitches and delays in the district’s planning process was part of a deliberate policy.
He said: “There has been no procrastination either by the officers of this council or the consultants it has employed.
“The simple fact is that these studies are immensely complex, involve external agencies and take time to complete. There is no motive other than to ensure that the information on which a decision would be made is clearly explained, accurate and complete.”
He also refuted suggestions of political manipulation, but this week, Liberal Democrat member for Stansted Alan Dean repeated his accusations.
He said: “It’s time for Jim Ketteridge to come clean with the residents of Uttlesford. He is allowing at Uttlesford what Caroline Spelman suggests – drift and delay.
“The Tories messed up in a big way two years ago with their new town idea at Elsenham. They keep promising technical reports that will resolve the uncertainty. These rarely materialise. They keep promising discussions for councillors. These get cancelled. They promised more public consultation this autumn. It’s off until next year.”
Elsenham and Henham Councillor David Morson added: “The Tories seem to be trying to give the false impression that the need for new homes will evaporate if there is a Tory government and that delaying the LDF’s preparation will provide an escape route from the mess that local Tories have created.
“They should get on now and finish the job they started two years ago rather than leaving this area blighted with uncertainty over new towns.”
Campaigners against the Conservatives’ preferred option to build a single settlement with at least 3,000 properties between Elsenham and Henham have been urged to support a Save our Villages spokesman at the Uttlesford environment committee meeting next Tuesday.