United front to challenge Green Belt threat?

Friday, 9 August, 2024

Local News

Councillors Vida Wilson, Colin Baldwin and Gary Bennett

Councillors and MPs in Wirral are being urged to work together and present a ‘united front’ in response to Government proposals that would see swathes of the Borough’s Green Belt lost forever.

Publication of the increased housing target for Wirral – from 14,560 to 35,100 – has been met with outrage from councillors, as well as anger and concern from residents and Green Belt campaigners.

Due to the Government’s September deadline for a response to the target, Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of the Conservative Councillors, requisitioned an Extraordinary Council meeting, seeking all-party support to reject the proposals.

Cllr. Green said: “It would be easy for many of us, at this stage, to react to these proposals in a partisan way, with the usual party political point scoring and name calling.

“Yes, we all know the Government is proposing something which they denied before the election. But what matters now is making sure Wirral Councillors and MPs work together to get them to think again.

Building 35,000 houses, much of it on Wirral’s Green Belt, is not the change people voted for.

“And a consultation over the summer, with more than 100 questions, some highly technical, risks suppressing he number of people who respond.

“Our request for an extraordinary meeting, being published today, seeks the support of Labour, Liberal Democrat Councillors to reject the proposed change in the formula used to generate this ludicrous target.”

The Extraordinary meeting will take place on Monday 19 August, starting at 6pm at Wallasey Town Hall. Residents can attend and observe the meeting.

Councillor Lesley Rennie added: “Such a high target is not only a threat to Wirral’s Green Belt, it also puts at risk some of the other local green spaces in parts of Wallasey which we have worked hard to protect and maintain for residents.

“And, at the same time, there are around 6,000 people on the waiting list for housing in Wirral.

“So far, the Government has failed to tell us why they think the Borough needs 35,000 additional houses to meet demand.”

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