27th April 2009

Dear Sir

Uttlesford Council betrays residents over EcoTown

The Uttlesford District's Full Council meeting of 21st April was the last chance to seek resolution and deliver its response to the Government's consultation regarding Eco Towns, specifically the proposal for N.E. Elsenham. A response is required by end of this April.

Following the Councils own resolution to “form a robust report rebuffing the N.E. Elsenham proposals”. I spoke on behalf of all residents of Uttlesford calling for a “unanimous Council decision to respond in the strongest possible terms” and “send an unequivocal, decisive and clear message to Government” that the proposed development “is unsustainable, inappropriate and not in any way supported by the Council”.

I appealed to all council members to focus on honouring that pledge to deliver a robust response to Government without “rhetoric and represent their electorate effectively and appropriately” and put the recent “party political sideshow” to one side, suggesting that Members concentrate on the core issue of sending a “clear message to the Government, action its own resolution and support Sir Alan Hazelhurst’s public comments recently circulated to the district”.

“Anything other than a robust “NO” would show a weakness in this administration and open the door to further imposition throughout the whole area. This would be a travesty and a dereliction of duty as our elected representatives”.

The resulting debate descended into yet another cross party point scoring exercise ignoring public opinion and some voices of reason, but more importantly the core issue STOP THE ECO TOWN.

The end result voted by council is a contrived, cynically orchestrated and ultimately weak response from the administration that fails residents and will hold little credence at D.C.L.G. in defending Uttlesford against Government plans for a massive unnecessary housing development that will affect the whole district, consume the villages of Elsenham and Henham and destroy a massive swath of Greenfield land in the process.

UDC got us into this and refused to get us out.

Let us not forget that the Conservative controlled Uttlesford Council Conservative Administration is recognised by Labour Central Government as exemplary in adhering, executing and delivering their Local Development Framework proposals for the district (Preferred Option 4, 3000+ houses in N.E. Elsenham). This acceptance to comply, adhere and swiftly deliver Labour Government policy, before the majority of other local authorities, including Labour controlled Councils, was duly recognised by Government and ultimately rewarded by the imposition of a larger settlement under the ECO Town tag.

Or was the reward due to U.D.C lazily opting to be led by The Fairfield Partnership and David Lock Associates in its housing development strategy for the district?Remember David Lock Associates are also advisors to Labour Government on Eco Towns.

U.D.C. opened the door but now refuse to close it.

U.D.C. administration has betrayed residents with a fudged weak response to the EcoTown proposal consultation purely on the basis that it may compromise itself if it contradicts its published L.D.F. plans.

Why is Conservative U.D.C. wedded to a Labour Central Government dictate when Conservative Central Office repeatedly states that they will make both EcoTowns and the L.D.F. go away when elected?

Surely with the belief that a General Election will solve all problems, one would expect U.D.C. to go on the offensive and oppose all imposition with maximum effect.

To the contrary, U.D.C. is in a state of paralysis. Waiting for divine intervention?

As a result it has become incapable of representing its constituents objectively or effectively and so fails in its duty.

The position taken over the EcoTown consultation is in no way representative of public opinion taken from Uttlesford’s own consultation. Nor have they satisfactorily fulfilled their obligation under their own resolution to strongly oppose the EcoTown proposal.

I am rarely surprised by what I observe within the Uttlesford District Council chambers regarding its inability to effectively operate in the best interests of residents regarding an effective response to Government housing provision.

The arrogance and duplicity displayed by key members of the administration in defence of their own “preferred 4 option” by neglecting their duty to represent the interests and views of constituents, due to a self imposed policy dilemma is unforgivable and reprehensible.

We have all been betrayed by our elected representatives and they have potentially opened the flood gates for further developments that will affect other communities across the district.

Yours faithfully

Simon Lee