Local Plan: it may not happen

Alex Claridge, Gazette Senior Reporter

Here's a thought: Let's say the city council in its draft Local Plan has either deliberately or accidentally - overstated the number of homes which can be built in the district over the next 18 years.

The council will endure a year or so of sniping and criticism. Afterwards. it can produce a blueprint for the future with a reduced number of homes.

That will go before the independent planning inspector who may revise the figure still further before he produces his final document, scheduled to be ready by the end of next year.

It means that the majority Conservative group on the city council will have an extraordinary piece of ammunition when it goes into the election year of 2015. It will be able to say: "When you told us you wanted fewer homes, we listened and cut the number in the plan."

No doubt those creating the plan will regard this as a cynical conclusion but it seems a difficult one to ignore given the way politics at all levels has worked in this country for the last 20 years or so.

It seems there are just too many obstacles to the figure of 15,600 homes ever being   realised - schools, healthcare, transport and employment, to name a few. Meanwhile, the question of homes is proving easily the most contentious aspect of this document. It attracted more than 20 public speakers to last Thursday's meeting (30th May 2013).

But one method of guaranteeing that councillors are less receptive to your views is to rant at them. Unfortunately, several speakers adopted unedifying tones last Thursday. Councillors are not aliens bent on the destruction of the district. All of them are people who have chosen public office because they think they can make things better.

And just like anyone else they should not have to endure people yelling in their faces.

HB Gazette 6th Jun 2013