Following our letter in June, the Branch has received a response from David Burton-Sampson MP (below). We are disappointed that he fails to acknowledge the serious risks we raised by building on Bournes Green. It also appears he is against building on the greenbelt near his own constituency, but not the neighbouring one.
Thank you for raising concerns about the potential development at Bournes Green.
I do understand your concerns about the loss of green belt land. I have been vocal in my opposition to building on the Green Belt between Leigh and Hadleigh, as I believe this land serves an important purpose.
However, I cannot in all conscience oppose every housing development in the area. I was elected on a manifesto pledging a massive increase in house-building. I don’t think this government – before or after the election – could have been clearer on this point.
Every week my office deals with people here in this constituency who are facing homelessness, or living in cramped and overcrowded conditions. Also, week-in week-out I talk to young people who want to get on the housing ladder. They don’t want to have to move miles and miles away, they want a home of their own here, near to their families.
Under previous governments, infrastructure did not keep up with housing growth, which led to many people feeling worse off and fostered cynicism about housing targets. My aim is to ensure that this does not happen, and housing goes hand in hand with new facilities and infrastructure. I note that council wish to link the development to the provision of a new hospital – if that were to happen their would be huge benefits for everyone in the area.
Proposals for Bournes Green are at an extremely early stage and any development is years away, so I will keep an open mind about it, subject to the considerations set out above.
We await to hear back from the Leader of the Council, Daniel Cowan and the MP for Southend East & Rochfod, Bayo Alaba.