Conservative politicians blast WAG housing plans

Clwyd West MP, David Jones, and Conwy County Borough Council Conservative Group Leader, Janet Finch-Saunders, have strongly criticised plans by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to compel the council to provide 9,000 new homes as part of the emerging Local Development Plan.

Mr Jones and Mrs Finch-Saunders say that these are contrary to the interests of local people and not supported by evidence.

In a joint statement, Mr Jones and Mrs Finch-Saunders said:

“WAG is seeking to compel Conwy CBC to prove that 9,000 homes are not needed; but in reality it should be for WAG to prove that they are.

“There are already over 2,000 residential properties standing empty in Conwy and WAG appear to be ignoring this available housing stock in their calculations.

“WAG’s plans would result in a massive loss of green fields and would change the character of our area for good.

“The Conservative Party is committed to providing affordable housing for those local people who need it.  However, WAG has not demonstrated a need for an extra 9,000 houses; they are simply relying upon projections unsupported by evidence.

“If WAG really wanted to reduce the housing pressure on this area, it would abandon its absurd policy of requiring Welsh local authorities to accept applications for housing from all comers, even those with no personal or family association with the area.

“The consequence of this policy has been a large influx of people, some with serious social problems, who are leapfrogging local people on the housing list.

“Local Authorities should be free to decide their own housing priorities.  Conservatives believe that local people should be first in queue for housing and we call upon WAG to abandon its misconceived and damaging housing policies.”