|
|
29/06/09 : West Berkshire Tories slammed for "just dumping on Reading" - and Alok Sharma for being their apologist! :
Naz Sarkar, Labour's new Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West has attacked West Berkshire's Tory Council for planning to dump 1000 houses on Reading's borders, putting a strain on Reading's services, and his Tory opponent Alok Sharma for acting as their apologist and for not standing up for local people.
Meanwhile West Berkshire Branch Labour Party is calling on local residents to back Option 5 in West Berkshire's consultation, as this is the only one that will protect precious open space at Pincents Hill and Theale, and preserve important gaps between communities.
Naz, who today met Niki Sealey of the Save Calcot Campaign and local Labour Parish Councillors at Pincents Hill, says: "The local Tories have really let down people in this area. Tory candidate Alok Sharma ran a high-profile 'campaign' against Blue Living's plans for 600-1000 houses at Pincents Hill, and then three out of the five options Tory West Berkshire Council 'consult' on involve building there! Well, their plan says they want to put 1000 houses on the borders of Reading, Theale, Calcot or Tilehurst so I suppose Pincents Hill is it. Local Tory Councillors have been saying one thing in their wards and the opposite in Newbury, and Alok Sharma, who says he cares for the area, has had no influence on Newbury whatsoever. With Labour it's just one straight message from all of us all the way."
And local Branch Chair Glenn Dennis adds: "Labour is supporting Option 5 - A number of smaller developments throughout the Eastern Urban Area and including all service centres in the east as we feel that the development should be spread as far as possible. We believe in local homes for local people: many youngsters who have been born and brought up in smaller communities like Burghfield Common and Mortimer would love to live there, but just can't afford the property prices, and we ought to plan for their future. Also, further development in these smaller communities would help secure local small businesses, schools and community facilities. But we're not sure West Berkshire Tories are in a mood to listen."
Visit our News Archive
|
|
|
|
|
|
