Cllr John Cope, Leader of the Conservative Opposition on Elmbridge Borough Council, has joined local MP Dr Ben Spencer in calling for urgent action to fix the Liberal Democrat-led Council's failure on the Local Plan. Together, they’ve written to Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook MP, demanding a solution to protect residents from further delays and costs. You can read the letter below
After 8 years of work and millions in wasted taxpayer money, the Planning Inspector has declared the Council’s plan “unsound.” Despite this, the Council continues to drag its feet—risking higher taxes, a loss of green spaces, and fewer affordable homes for Elmbridge.
John Cope commented:
“It’s now clear years of work and millions of pounds of local people’s money have gone down the drain – and an acute shortage of affordable housing allowed in Elmbridge.
I don’t think Elmbridge residents should be held responsible for the failings of their Liberal Democrat-led Council – and should not pay the consequences of higher council tax and reduced local services, or see what remains of their green spaces lost.
Any new Local Plan will not just cost over a million pounds but will also have to accept the Labour government’s 121% increase in top-down development targets meaning a huge loss of green belt and loss of local democratic control of planning – but with no new roads, GPs, or schools to support the development.”
"If the Council is unable to deliver something as basic as a Local Plan, I suggest the Liberal Democrat leadership hands over control to the local Conservatives and residents so we can get the job done."
