BinB News | BinB Events Town Sites | Ascot | Bracknell | Henley | Maidenhead | Marlow | Newbury | Slough | Reading | Windsor | Wokingham
The Government Simply do not want to know |
Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead, speaks out against the Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Nigel Griffiths MP, after he branded the issue of development on back gardens as not ‘serious’.
The Rt Hon Jack Straw had previously called the Conservative’s Opposition day debates ‘eccentric’, and last Thursday Mrs May sought to clarify the issue, stating that the Conservatives have had Opposition day debates on ‘the BBC, housing and planning policy, tax credits, volunteers and carers and the NHS’. She asked Mr Griffiths to point out which one of these were eccentric. Caught off guard, Mr Griffiths, standing in for Mr Straw in this debate, sought to come up with a quick quip – instead he managed to laugh off an issue which distresses much of the British public. In a letter to Mr Griffiths today, Theresa May conveys her disappointment at Mr Griffiths’ actions. She goes on to say: ‘Back gardens are currently classified as Brownfield land - a concept which is leading to over development in many areas, not to mention the loss of green spaces and increased pressure on local infrastucture. ‘It is important that we strive to create more affordable housing, and encourage people to step onto the property ladder. But we must realise that the debate on housing is not just is not about whether we need more homes or not – it is clear that more properties need to be built in this country – but it is about where these new homes should be built, and to what standard. ‘Government housing quotas should not be simply achieved at the expense of our precious green spaces: from the gardens that provide so much biodiversity in our towns and cities, to the wonderful countryside that surrounds our urban areas. Speaking afterwards Theresa said, ‘You only have to look at Shoppenhanger’s Road in Maidenhead, Wargrave Road in Twyford, and Butts Hill Road in Woodley for examples of how much development is taking place on back garden land. Much of it is over-development which changes the character of the area and puts undue pressure on roads, schools, doctors and surgeries, and utility supplies. In part Mr Griffiths failure to realise the importance of this issue is perhaps just another example of how the Government is out of touch with the issues that truly affect the public.’ ENDS Contact Theresa May: Office: 020 7219 1304 Pager: 07626 801 299 Email: mayt@parliament.uk Web: www.tmay.co.uk |
