Lib Dems would not withdraw Local Plan if elected
As the Vale's Local Plan finally reaches the point of submission, opposition to the plans from local Lib Dems has been dismissed as "purely electioneering". Throughout the long and difficult process of drawing up the Local Plan, opposition councillors on the Vale have failed to put forward positive proposals for any alternatives to the housing schemes proposed. This failure to tackle the challenges facing the district is reminiscent of the failure of the previous Lib Dem administration to adopt a Local Plan whilst they were in office up to 2011. By contrast the Conservatives have faced up to the difficult decisions and have toured the district to explain the proposals to local people and respond to their concerns. Speaking as the Local Plan was submitted to Government for examination, Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of the Council said, "It is now clear that the opposition to the Council's Local Plan is pure electioneering. At the most recent Council meeting, leading Lib Dem councillors made it clear that if elected in May, not only would they not withdraw the plan, but if it passed examination they would adopt it in full." The Lib Dems risk the worst of both worlds. If they had been successful in their opposition to the Local Plan, we would be left open to more years of speculative housing developments, over which we would have no control. They are seeking support from those who have concerns about the Council's plans yet the truth is that they would refuse to withdraw the plans if they were elected. Only the Conservatives have shown the commitment to make the difficult decisions that are needed to ensure we can deliver the infrastructure that is needed along with housing development, and only the Conservatives have been honest with the public about their commitment to the Local Plan.