You What?

Here's what the Minister with responsibility for Housing and Communities had to say today in a national newspaper. Just goes to show how out of touch all our politicians can be, of whatever hue when they've been in power for a long time. To think that a government minister should want to vilify those who protest about the destruction of green spaces in much the same way that Ridley did in the 80's is quite awful. She completely missed the point that we want our children and grandchildren to be able to afford to live where we do, if they wish. Dumb, just dumb. Here's what I wrote to her. Why don't you write too? Her email address is yvette.cooper@communities.gsi.gov.uk

"Dear Ms Cooper,

Your piece in the 'Guardian' Response column is astonishingly out of touch with mainstream feeling about housing development. You ask about campaigners who are not indignant about the lack of opportunity for first time buyers or the crowded condition of many family homes.

Here in my little corner of Sussex, Chichester District Council is proposing to concrete over the only recreation ground in our village, if it cannot reach government targets for new housing in the area. This is a much valued piece of land used by families, football clubs, people seeking exercise and social contact - it is part of the glue which binds our community together and its loss would no doubt cause significant social damage and contribute to the failure of other government policies on crime and disorder or tackling childhood obesity. This despite an excellent former factory site in the locality which could be developed.

At a recent Parish Council meeting many villagers there accepted the need for more housing contrary to your assertion; of course we want our children to have a chance to buy or rent affordable homes nearby if they wish and we accept that people want to move to the south or south east for jobs. But we do object strongly to the idea that our green spaces should go for what will inevitably result in massive profits for developers and those who choose to invest in property on a buy-to-rent basis – with no discernible re-investment in to the community. Not to mention again the social consequences of the destruction of green spaces.

I despair of the fact that our government seems, at all levels, local and national to be so out of touch with local issues over planning. We are not Nimbys but we do expect our government to be far more creative in its thinking about housing the people of this country instead of destroying its green spaces.

Perhaps you or your officials might like to visit www.savecamelsdalerec.blogspot.com in order to form a more accurate picture? Doubt it though.

Sincerely yours – thinking about placing my vote elsewhere,


Mike"