Windsor and Maidenhead’s two Members of Parliament, Theresa May and Adam Afriyie, have today written to the leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Councillor David Burbage, to commend the council’s motion regarding building on gardens.
Planning rules which were brought in during John Prescott’s tenure as Deputy Prime Minister are forcing the demolition of homes with gardens, and their replacement with ‘high-density’ developments. Local residents and their councils are increasingly powerless to prevent the over-development of their neighbourhoods, and infill of green spaces because of Government imposed top-down housing targets.
The council motion, which was passed on 22nd April 2008, seeks to return powers over local planning decisions to locally elected councillors and follows a long-running campaign by Conservatives against Labour’s “garden grab”.
Speaking about the motion, Theresa May said:
“I am pleased that the Royal Borough is addressing the problem of garden grabbing. It is vital that we all work together to protect our local gardens which not only improve people’s personal quality of life, but also the feel of our local community. I know that many people in Maidenhead are concerned about this issue and I will continue to campaign with the Council and with Conservatives locally and nationally for an end to Labour’s ‘garden grab’.”
Adam Afriyie said:
“I am delighted that the council are calling for powers over local planning decisions to be returned to local authorities. The insensitive over-development of our constituency is of great concern to me and I’ve been actively campaigning for the last few years and continue to do so now in Parliament. I would urge local residents to sign the Conservatives petition against Labour’s Garden Grab on the Conservatives website.”
