People come first

First we had the SE Plan, then the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), and then the SHMA ‘critical friend’ evaluation – all of which recommended a higher housing provision number for Arun district (565–580 houses per annum) than the district council’s ‘preference’ for 400 houses per annum (which officers have confirmed there is no evidence to support).

Neighbouring councils have accepted the findings of the SHMA and are progressing their local plans. Arun’s Conservatives, on the other hand, have allocated £100,000 of taxpayers’ money for another ‘review’ of the SHMA evidence, before deciding on strategic locations.

Is taxpayers’ money being used as part of a face-saving exercise to cover up for poor political leadership throughout the local plan process (i.e. the creation of a one-horse race, in which the proposed ‘horse’ is almost certainly undeliverable, and located in Conservative heartlands!)?

Is this ‘review’ just smoke and mirrors to make the electorate think that Arun’s Conservatives are on their side, by seeking lower housing numbers? Arun’s Conservatives can then blame the officers, the Planning Inspectorate, their own Government, numerous consultants, or anyone else that is handy, when they eventually press ahead with the higher housing number.

On May 2, 2013, in the county council elections across the Arun district, the Conservatives received 10,100 votes, UKIP 10,036 votes, Lib-Dems 5,055 votes, Labour 3,467 votes, independents 766 votes and the BNP 57 votes. It is clear that UKIP is now a threat to the Conservatives.

Arun District Council has been under the control of the Conservative party since its first election in 1973. The last elections to the council were held on May 5, 2011. Crucially, the next elections are now less than two years away.

An incredibly unpopular Conservative council needs to make itself popular as a matter of urgency. Are we now witnessing a political group using £100,000 of taxpayers’ money to buy short term popularity. . . and to provide an excuse for when it eventually has to face up to its responsibilities?

Tony Dixon

Barons Close

Westergate