LIB DEMS CALL FOR SCRAPPING OF WORCESTER OVERSPILL HOUSING PLANS

10.11.00am GMT Wed 3rd Dec 2008

West Midlands Regional Liberal Democrats will call for the scrapping of proposed Worcester overspill housing in their submission to the 'Preferred Options' review of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

The statement was warmly welcomed by local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Richard Burt, who has strongly opposed council plans for excess housing outside the city boundary towards Kempsey, Hallow and Lower Broadheath villages.

Richard said:

"The party's regional response to the 'Preferred Options' strategy will be submitted to the Regional Planning Body before the deadline next Monday.

"I know how strongly residents feel about this locally and am delighted that my regional colleagues have taken these views on board.

"We will argue that proposals for development outside the city boundaries will lead to unsustainable urban sprawl and threaten the character of nearby villages.

"South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy locations for overspill housing are heavily criticised as 'some of the least sustainable sites possible in the entire region'.

"We are therefore proposing that all overspill housing should be removed from the plan, leaving discussion only on new housing that can be contained within the City."

ENDS