'Local plan takes a step backwards' - say Medway Liberal Democrats

Conservative Leader of Medway Council, Alan Jarrett, has stated that the local plan is heading back to Regulation 18. Before this term of office, Regulation 18 had already been passed and the objective was to proceed through Regulation 19 and examination in public in order to put the local plan in place. The Conservative led council has not only failed to progress the local plan during this term of office, but has now arrived at a point when the only way to proceed to go back to the start and begin Regulation 18 all over again.

The major issue is that Medway continues to be in a position where it is open to challenge for all housing applications because it's neither meeting the housing target nor has a local plan. The developers have the whip hand and the Council will face costs if it loses on appeal at the Planning Inspectorate. The need for a local plan is not only retention of control over planning, but also to keep control of costs on appeal.

John Castle, Chair of Medway Liberal Democrats said, "The dither and delay exhibited by the Conservative administration has now resulted in a return to square one. The strategy adopted by the Cabinet has been divisive, pitting parties and neighbourhoods against each other, rather than delivering a local plan for Medway. The target is too high, so in a limited way going back to the start with a lower target may be a benefit, however the delay and opportunity cost is much a bigger detriment.

Medway needs a local plan that protects Medway Council's control over planning, enshrines the Alternative Masterplan for Chatham Docks to retain the area as commercial use and delivers the housing, employment and transport changes needed to make Medway a better place to live, work, study and visit."

ENDS