Letter sent to the Stockport Express 07/12/16, Cllr Philip Harding.

Dear Sir

There are times when even we are surprised by the capacity of the LibDems to bend the truth, use scare tactics and blatantly twist the facts for, what they consider to be, political gain. Following recent public statements and emails from a LibDem Councillor please let me set the record straight:

Are plans which “jam thousands of new houses onto local greenbelt” still going ahead? NO – absolutely no decisions have been taken and residents are still being consulted (something the LibDems wanted to stop). There will be further consultations next year. The GMSF plan will probably change or possibly be abandoned altogether if Councillors are unwilling to accept the final version. But right now it is crucial that we all engage in a constructive dialogue about the best ways to both meet development need and minimise greenbelt incursion – and that’s what the consultation is all about.

Were the GMSF plans “pushed through” Council last week? NO – what the Council did agree was to start the process for its own Local Plan for Stockport. The LibDems voted against having such a Local Plan which would result in the Council having no defence against free for-all-development. This would leave the greenbelt with no protection whatsoever. The Local Plan report that was before Council specifically states “The purpose of this report is not to consider the agreement of emerging GMSF figures or any proposed allocations as this is a wholly separate process“.

The Council has to produce an updated Local plan that’s about Stockport and its future development needs regardless of what happens to the GMSF. It is irresponsible in the extreme that the LibDems are not prepared to support this.

Cllr Philip Harding
Chair – Planning and Highways Committee