1 December 2008
Harriett Baldwin today sent in written objections to the Regional Spatial Strategy and the Nathaniel Lichfield report.
These are the key points she makes
- Infrastructure investment in the Southern A4440 Worcester Ring Road, the Norton Parkway Railway Station and the dual tracking of the Cotswold Line would be welcome.
- Malvern Hills District should get a maximum of 4,900 homes, not twice that amount with Worcester City's overspill
- The planners should respect "windfall" sites - small developments on previously developed land - and avoid too much green field development
- A green belt must be placed between Worcester City and Kempsey and considered between Worcester and Lower Broadheath.
- Rural development can help sustain local shops, Post Offices, schools and other services.
- Powerful wireless broadband could help bring more employment to rural areas.
Harriett Baldwin said, "I object strongly to the way in which this government has imposed huge targets for housing on South Worcestershire from the top down. This approach would be scrapped by a Conservative government. I have nevertheless sent in a response to the Regional Spatial Strategy. In it I object to the housing numbers in the Nathaniel Lichfield report and to the imposition of overspill from Worcester City.