SELLING OFF THE FAMILY SILVER  -  LIB DEMS RAISE PUBLIC FEARS AS THE EXTENT OF EHDC SALE OF PUBLIC LAND BECOMES CLEAR

East Hants Liberal Democrats have condemned Conservative plans to sell of  EHDC land across the district as "selling off the family silver".

Commenting Adam Carew Lib Dem East Hants district councillor and would be MP said "This selling off the family silver is unacceptable and short sighted. This is public land we are talking about and could result in a loss of a number of green field sites in towns and villages across East Hampshire.

"I don't think anyone is against the sale of one or two plots what we object to is the sheer scale of public land sales across the district. We are looking at a lot of green field sites here that when sold at Market value could raise anything up to £2 million. Once this land is sold for development its gone for ever.

"Like with the hikes in car parking charges this will have a major impact across the district.  It would have been far better to bring both highly controversial matters  to full council for a proper debate rather than just allowing a few Tory councillors to nod it through at cabinet."

Liberal Democrat leader at EHDC Tony Ludlow said "The Tories are up to their old tricks again.  In the May elections last year Liberal Democrats warned the the electorate that Conservative plans for a penny a day council tax freeze would have knock-on effects elsewhere.  We said they would sell off the family silver in the shape of EHDC land and hike-up stealth taxes like EHDC car parking charges and that is exactly what has happened.  

"We are witnessing the wholesale sell-off of  public open space, even children's playing areas and former play areas will be affected. The planning system looks at each plot of land on a case by case basis but what will concern people is the cumulative impact.  East Hants residents value their green spaces.  EHDC is supposed to take Landscape and Biodiversity very seriously.  There are many mature trees on these sites and it would be dreadful to lose them and the wildlife they support.  These plans are no good for local communities and they are no good for East Hampshire."


Cllr Ludlow continued "There is a real lack of social housing in East Hampshire.  Young and local people on lower incomes have a real problem on getting onto the housing ladder.  As the Tories have decided to sell off our public land it would be far better to sell it off to housing associations or channel the profits directly back into such schemes rather then forcing them to compete with developers for this land at market value."

13 plots of land will be sold off across the District.  They will probably be marketed altogether as part of a wider package as they may not all get planning permission.