Liberal Democrats bid to remove all Green Belt sites from the Local Plan

The Liberal Democrat administration is proposing to remove all Green Belt sites from the Mole Valley Local Plan. Engagement with the Government's Inspector, who is examining the plan, is being triggered via the calling of an Extra-ordinary Council meeting on 16th January. This follows indications, before Christmas, from the Secretary of State of intended changes in Government policy.

The Mole Valley Local Plan which has been developed in line with Government requirements is currently being considered by the Inspector following the formal Enquiry held towards the end of last year. However, just before Christmas the current Secretary of State issued a number of statements which amounted to a significant U-turn in Tory government policy, and these have been incorporated in amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework which are now the subject of a national consultation exercise.

'The U-turn is very welcome and recognises what we have been pressing for since we inherited a Tory Local Plan awash with proposed Green Belt development by recognising that local Councils and not Central Government know how best to plan for their areas' said MVDC Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Planning, Councillor Margaret Cooksey. 'The changes remove central direction of housing numbers and the necessity to incorporate Green Belt development to meet them.'

If the Inspector agrees with our proposed process, as we hope she will, this can be achieved by introducing a major modification, which would allow the plan to proceed to the next stage of consultation on all the proposed modifications.'

'I hope that all members of all parties will support this action - it is such a shame that the Conservative Government has waited until now to make the change, which had it been introduced when we requested it, would have saved four years of concern, controversy and huge expense.'