Lib Dem rubbishes Tory claims on site for new houses

11.45.00pm GMT Thu 9th Feb 2006

Cllr Smith-Hughes with Cllr Peter Charman on one of the 'at risk' sites round the north of Chelmsford

Leading local Liberal Democrat Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes has reminded local people in north-west Chelmsford of Tory plans to build 1000 new houses in the area (not to mention a further 3,000 plus houses around Springfield).

Cllr Smith-Hughes was responding today (9 February) to a Chelmsford Weekly News letter on 2 February that suggested there was no such plans.

Said Cllr Smith-Hughes, "One thing is crystal clear about local housing plans: the Conservative Borough Council's first and preferred option is for 1000 new houses on green fields between Newland Spring and Broomfield. I am therefore puzzled as to what document C Mills (Postbag, Feb 2nd 2006) was reading when he wrote in denying this.

"Perhaps he was thinking of the Conservative pre-election leaflet which told residents there was no threat to North West Chelmsford - six months before these disturbing plans were published by the Conservative-run council.

"In addition, another developer is lobbying the Council to boost this number to 4,000 houses - destroying the green fields around the Chignal Estate, Newland Spring, all the way to Broomfield.

"I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues would be failing in our duty if we did not point out the disaster that the Conservatives and others are seeking to impose on North West Chelmsford."