Local Conservative councillors expressed disappointment today at the failure of Surrey Liberal Democrats to support calls to scrap the South East Plan.
Gordon Brown’s South East Plan, published on 6 May, ignores over 5,000 Guildford individuals, residents’ associations and parish councils, in removing Green Belt protection around Guildford and setting unrealistic building targets for the next 20 years. The South East Plan will be one of the biggest local issues in the run up to the June local and European elections.
At a meeting of Surrey County Council on 28 April, a motion backed the abolition of all regional planning, transferring powers over housing and planning from unelected regional quangos back to elected local councils. The motion received widespread support from the independent Residents’ Association Group as well as Conservative councillors. However, Liberal Democrats led by Cllr Sarah di Caprio (Guildford South East) all voted “No” to allowing local people a greater say in their future.
County Cllr Tony Rooth (Shalford) commented: “It is very disappointing that Surrey Liberal Democrats have failed to support this motion. Local people want greater control over the size, shape and ‘look and feel’ of their communities. Conservatives will give them that choice, and are the only party pledging to scrap the South East Plan.
“Liberal Democrats now show they are not ‘local’ democrats by voting in principle against giving local people a greater say. Not only do they support regional planning, but they also are ignoring the views of local people in their support for the Dunsfold new town on the countryside.”