Just got this email back from MEP Sajjad Karim. Thank you for your email and for making me aware of the feelings of Whiston residents with regard to the sale and development of Greenbelt land in South Whiston by Knowsley Council. Whist, as an MEP, I cannot provide any political resolution to local planning decisions, it does appear from your email, and the large objection to the proposals by local residents, that there are a number of inconsistencies between Government Policy and Knowsley Council’s decision to redevelop the land. I am aware that the Government recently announced new policy guidance on planning and building on Greenbelt land – announced on the 4th October 2014. This makes it clear that Government wants brownfield sites to be prioritised for development. Most significantly, however, the new planning framework makes clear that, ‘once established, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances, through the preparation or review of the Local Plan.’ It also states: ‘housing need does not justify the harm done to the green belt by inappropriate development’. Full details of the new planning policies can be read by clicking on the link below: https://gov.uk/government/news/councils-must-protect-our-precious-green-belt-land Although I unfortunately cannot personally intervene, I would recommend that the contradictions highlighted in this policy framework between Knowsley and the Government are made very clear to both the Council and to the Secretary of State. I would also recommend that appropriate legal advice is sought to challenge this decision through the correct channels, given that the present ‘one party state’ of Knowsley Council gives little chance for political opposition or scrutiny of such decisions. With regards Sajjad Karim MEP Conservative Member of the European Parliament for North West England
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 01:09:17 +0000
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