Tories "know best" on Crane Valley!

2.02.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 31st Jul 2003

Tories Set Aside Views Of Residents, Colleges And Ecologists And Go For Most Unpopular Crane Valley Option.

At tonight's Council meeting the Tories, having lifted the threat to the Craneford Way playing fields, nodded through a watered down version of Option 1, the least popular option in the consultation. The further changes have to go out to yet a further consultation with further meetings in September.

Councillor Martin Elengorn

Commented Councillor Martin Elengorn, Lib Dem Environment spokesman "The proposals though amended yet again are still deeply flawed. Firstly the areas of greatest nature conservation value, the Rifle Club site and the Mereway allotments are to be developed for housing with a vague promise to improve nature conservation elsewhere."

"It was very evident that none of the Tories understood that the untended state of these sites was precisely why wild life was flourishing. They have no idea about different habitats and seem to think that improving the River Crane itself, desirable though it is, is fair exchange for building on rough grassland. In fact these are completely different habitats, supporting very different species."

"It is also still very obvious that plans have gone ahead without any sort of proper discussion with the Adult College or the Tertiary College. Their letters to the Council make it clear that they oppose all the options and regard the Sorting Office option as the worst possible solution. The site is too constricted to provide what they need. Pressure to include Heatham House is an alarming consequence."

"The Tories have belatedly dragged in the argument that their proposals will help them meet housing targets, something they previously berated the Lib Dems for achieving. In fact this is irrelevant as the borough is well on course to meet its targets. The proposals are about fund-raising not proper land use planning and will have a rough ride with the Inspector."