Men in nice houses don’t throw stones
Fred Trice (Men in nice houses don’t throw stones) appears to have misinterpreted my campaign to reduce the number of houses being imposed on us by the Government.
I have never “derided” new homes and have always made quite clear that we require a properly planned house building programme to ensure a steady supply of homes for the natural growth of our existing population.
However, the level of house building currently planned is unsustainable and is far more than is required to meet the needs of local people. Presumably Mr Trice moved to Eastchurch because he wanted to live in a village environment. How would he feel if all the open countryside between Thistle Hill and White Post Corner was filled up with housing? Don’t say it can’t happen, because that is exactly what was originally planned in the ill-fated Lionhope Project!
The current local plan calls for an additional 9,500 houses, of which land for only 8000 has been allocated. The Government is about to impose yet another 6,000 houses on our area, which means that land has to be found for an additional 7,500 houses. I don’t know how many of those houses will end up on Sheppey, however, I do know that our local Labour MP is keen to see more development on the Island, in order to reduce the pressure for more houses at Bapchild and Rodmersham! Lionhope could yet have the last laugh!
Nobody will ever be able to convince me that those additional houses are needed to cater for a natural growth in Sheppey’s population. Indeed, the Government has admitted that 80% of its planned increase in housing is to meet the needs of inward migration. I don’t see why we should stand by and let Labour concrete over our Island simply because it lacks the ability, and the will, to put in place a fair, but firm immigration policy!
Finally, Mr Trice’s notion that I live in some grand country mansion will bring a smile to the faces of my neighbours in Halfway!