LIB DEM SLAMS LATEST TORY DELAYS OVER 'INSULTING' AREA ACTION PLAN

Mid Sussex Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Serena Tierney has slammed Conservative performance over the Area Action Plan (AAP). Ms Tierney told local Lib Dems that the recent Tory draft AAP was 'insulting' to the people of East Grinstead' and promised 'a better way' from the Lib Dems.

Ms Tierney said: 'James Baldwin and the local Lib Dems have provided real leadership. They have listened to local people's real concerns and responded with real proposals. People recognise that East Grinstead needs real action on traffic relief, jobs and houses but not at any price: they want East Grinstead to continue to be a good place to live - for current and future residents alike.

'Liberal Democrats are a united team: at all levels, town, district and county they are continuing to fight for the best deal for East Grinstead. By contrast, the Tories do not listen to local people. And they are divided. Some now say one thing when in East Grinstead but actions speak louder than words: at all stages in this planning process they have run the County and District councils and made the decisions that produced the EGAAP.

'Make no mistake, it is the Tories who produced a 'consultation' document so badly drafted that it was insulting to local people. It is the Tories who ran a 'consultation' process that was a disgrace. And it is the Tories who have now decided to delay any further discussion until after the elections next May.

'I have to ask: 'What are they up to now? Why delay a decision on progressing the AAP for 6 months at this stage? What plan have they now got in store for East Grinstead? What news is so good that it has to be delayed until after the elections?'

She said people agreed that Mid Sussex needed more affordable housing for its young people and key workers but 'it is a question of how much, where, when and how.' People also agreed that East Grinstead's traffic congestion needs to be relieved.

'The Town is becoming an unholy traffic jam. This problem cannot be solved just by developers' cash in return for more new houses. It requires a more intelligent and holistic strategy. Mid Sussex Lib Dems are finalising a new approach to this issue which will be published as part of their election platform for next year's elections.'

But she warned that the question will ultimately be decided at a public enquiry and that the Planning Inspector must be offered viable alternatives to the current plan:

'The inspector cannot just say 'No'. If all that is on offer is a choice between the current plan and nothing, the inspector will be left with no option. It is essential that there are alternatives available to choose.'

Ms Tierney said it was time for Mid Sussex District Council to focus on developing the AAP on the basis of East Grinstead Town Council's Alternative Approach, which she called 'an insightful and intelligent review, drawing on wide community support and the basis of the Lib Dems' better way forward for East Grinstead .

NOTES :

1. The draft East Grinstead Area Action Plan was produced by the Conservative-controlled Mid Sussex District Council under its statutory obligations to produce a Local Plan for the Mid Sussex district.

2. The Local Plan must conform with the Strategic Plan produced by Conservative-controlled West Sussex County Council which designates East Grinstead as the location for a strategic housing development.

3. Liberal Democrat County Councillors introduced an amendment to the draft Strategic Plan that requires the provision of a relief road that provides effective relief of 2004 levels of traffic congestion in the town centre.