'We don't care about affordable housing' - Tories

11.46.08am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Jun 2007

Tories have turned down affordable housing contributions

Furious Liberal Democrats have rounded on West Berkshire Council's Conservative administration following last week's crunch meeting of full council which saw the ruling Group unanimously vote through an application to build 64 homes on the Pinchington Lane waste site. Despite impassioned pleas from local residents and Lib Dem councillors, the 36-strong Conservative Group not only voted through the proposed development, but also turned down millions of pounds worth of funding for local education and affordable housing.

Lib Dem leader Jeff Brooks voiced his Group's concerns following the heated meeting which took place on Thursday (21st June):

"We remain dumbfounded by the Tory administration's callous and careless attitude towards improving life in West Berkshire. A senior Tory front bencher even said "We don't care about affordable housing", which is difficult to swallow in a district where 3,000 people are on the waiting list to be housed. The developer's representative sat there and offered to pay education and housing contributions and was turned down flat by the Conservatives. I will be writing to GOSE urging them to call in the decision urgently."

The vote means that the controversial Abbotswood waste site will now be built on the green gateway to the south of Newbury.

Councillor David Rendel was equally disappointed over the outcome.

"I felt it was important to emphasise how great the need for affordable homes in West Berkshire is. While I was recounting examples of young families left homeless in my ward, I was shouted down by senior Tories who were describing the issue as "minor" and "short term". The Conservatives are playing roulette with peoples homes and futures, and, even worse, they are happy to do so."