Lib Dems attack Minister's views on local eco-town consultation events

Liberal Democrats have described the Government Housing Minister's view that local residents were given sufficient notice of recent eco-town consultation events as 'astonishing.'

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Wootton and Stewartby Tim Hill said:

"I find it astonishing that Housing Minister Iain Wright MP considers that local residents were given sufficient notice of recent eco-town consultation events in a number of villages in the Marston Vale.

"The 'publicity' in the local press in September for village hall exhibitions was limited, to say the very least. In November, a single caravan was parked at Marston Vale Country Park. Parish Councils were given six days notice of this, and I as a local Borough Councillor was informed of it just two days in advance.'

"I would encourage people to visit the eco-towns consultation website and have their say. I have made clear my view that the proposals are utterly unsuitable and must not be allowed to go ahead.'

"It seems that there is a new Housing Minister for each stage of the consultation. Perhaps each new Minister is having trouble believing the degree of opposition expressed in the views expressed to date. I can assure this one that the opposition is very real, it's very strong and it is not going to go away, especially if 'consultation' events are held without giving adequate notice to local residents."