MP silent on Manydown (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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MP silent on Manydown
2:00pm Friday 29th June 2012 in News By Simon Moss
BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has again refused to be drawn on whether she supports the building of any new homes on Manydown.
The Conservative MP was approached by The Gazette after bosses on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council accepted it is likely new homes will be built on the 820-hectare land.
The major issue, which culminated in a High Court ruling in April, has divided the borough. Instead of building on Manydown, council bosses had proposed thousands of homes in the north east of the borough, in their now defunct Core Strategy development blueprint.
This was opposed by many people in Chineham and Old Basing, who felt the council should build on Manydown as that is the reason it was acquired back in 1996. However, those living to the west of Basingstoke do not wish to see the land developed due to poor infrastructure.
When asked to give a yes or no answer as to whether any homes should be built in Basingstoke, Mrs Miller refused to do so.
Instead, she said: “I think we have huge questions to ask before we agree to building large numbers of houses in Basingstoke in the future.
“As a result of the previous Government’s policies, thousands of houses were built without the right infrastructure in Basing-stoke. There are serious questions about future house-building levels so that we can ensure that the existing infrastructure gap is filled.
“Where new houses should be built is down to the local authority and not MPs. Local authorities should be given a much stronger say in how that is done. Through the Localism Act, that is what this Government is doing.”
Comments(21)
robertspet8
says...
2:42pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Having said that I am not sure our local authority is qualified to make these decisions.
stevemac1970
says...
3:03pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Opinions_opinions wrote:Let's be clear, Maria isn't just dodging the question, she's clearly forgetful of her answers. When she was selected, she was clearly not in favour of any plans to build on manydown, now she's very unsure. If she says build and then it doesn't happen, she's against her own colleagues and supporters and all for nothing, if she says don't build, she's effectively saying 2 fingers to the court. I do hope that fence has some nice size splinters for you Maria, as it seems the only way you can be brave is when you put disabled people out of work, take there money away and say now go get a job.
Well finally The Gazette has asked Maria Miller a direct question. Thank you for listening to your readers. However, Ms Miller is doing the usual politician dodge by blaming the previous governments policies. Doesn't she realise we are all tired of this answer. The Tory's have been in local government here for some time. Long enough to have fixed the issues that they want to blame previous governments for. We need a simple answer Ms. Miller, do you support the building of houses on Manydown ?
Opinions_opinions
says...
3:08pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Why are you pleased she won't be drawn in on this issue ? She is OUR local MP. Are we not allowed to know how our locally elected MP feels about issues that affect the electorate that voted her in ? Do you really think she has no input into local council decisions ? She has direct access to the so called best brains in the country. Why did she not consult with them about the Manydown issue instead of letting this council waste taxpayers money defending the indefensible ? Maria Miller doesn't care about the people of Basingstoke. She doesn't even live in Basingstoke. This is Party policy to get someone they want to represent a safe seat and then have them do other work for the Party and not represent the people who voted for her. Let's be honest, if you want a Labour government, you vote for whoever the Labour candidate is for your area, same for the Libdems, UKIP and Conservative. We really do not have any choice of who our MP's are if we have to choose between the Political Party's. Those decisions are not ours and never will be.Can you imagine what would happen if a Tory councillor stood for MP for Basingstoke at the next election ! Do you think the Conservative Party would let that happen ? Not a chance. If the Tory Party, or any other Party did not want that councillor to stand, they would not be able to. We all like to pretend we live in a democratic society, but the truth is completely different.
ParanoidAndroid
says...
3:25pm Fri 29 Jun 12
ThomasPaine
says...
3:55pm Fri 29 Jun 12
What has happened in two years, well for one her Government, in which she is a loyal minister, has introduced the National Planning Policy Framework. That sets a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development.'
She criticises the old Labour regional and local plans for being too top down - well now we have the ultimate top down decision from Tory Central Government telling every local authority in the land that they have to say yes to development because the default answer is yes and that overides local policies. What a hypocrite! There I said it...
The Tories have screwed up so badly locally that they have left every green field at the mercy of developers who are queuing up to get planning permission.
Manydown, the East of Basingstoke, North up the A33 and all over the South as well they are looking at the Council and its incompetence and seeing opportunity.
Those Tories who stitched up the planning process, who acted unlawfully have so much to answer for.
Former Cllr Reid, Tory Cabinet Members Donnell, Golding and Finney, Cllr Peach and Taylor just as much as Maria Miller are all responsible for the High Court judgement and bringing the Council down to its knees.
Now they don't have a local plan, they can't stop developers because they don't know what to do, and the whole thing is an unbelievable scandal.
Meanwhile, we all suffer. Suffer from bad development, developers cramming in everything they can get, and still Maria has the gall to tell the Gazette it's a matter for local authorities.
MARIA YOU HAVE CREATED THIS MESS WITH YOUR NPPF, YOUR COUNCILLORS AND YOU HAVE LEFT US WIDE OPEN TO DEVELOPERS THEY ACTED UNLAWFULLY - THE LEAST YOU COULD HAVE DONE WAS APOLOGISE!
I think there are a number of opposition councillors who are trying to hold the Tories to account. But after all this, the Tories are trying to stop any scrutiny of their actions. There is a lot more going on here than we can see at the moment - why else would they be doing everything they can to stop an open independent investigation? This stinks, it really stinks - and Maria is as deeply mired in it as the rest of the Tories, 'they are all in it together.'
Theyouthmatters
says...
8:45am Sat 30 Jun 12
popleyrebel2
says...
6:45pm Sat 30 Jun 12
Wasn’t this thread closed after 6 comments??
Opinions_opinions
says...
8:43am Sun 1 Jul 12
Opinions_opinions
says...
8:43am Sun 1 Jul 12
popleyrebel2
says...
10:06am Sun 1 Jul 12
It clearly stated,
“Comments are closed on this article”
Keep_Calm_And_Comment
says...
6:35pm Sun 1 Jul 12
Some people just can't get the basic facts right. How long has Popley Parker banged on about this. Does make him look a bit of a twit.
It's fair to say we've already established that 'Sir' George has problems keeping his word (medals saga).
popleyrebel2
says...
2:48pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Quote from Keep_Calm_And_Commen
t
“Indeed. Manydown is in Sir George Young's constituency as far as I can tell”
Un-quote.
So you’re not fully convinced that Manydown is in Sir George Young's constituency.
(Only as far as you can tell) by using Postcode and office address.
Furthermore, when did your investigation start in to who is the MP for Manydown, did it start on Sat 30 Jun 12 when it was raised by Theyouthmatters, (on this thread?)
Another quote from you.
Keep_Calm_And_Commen
t says...
8:50pm Wed 18 Apr 12
“Much that I find what the local Tory freemasons did abhorrent in relation to Manydown”
I take it, that’s all “local Tories” including our Tory MP Maria Miller?
robertspet8
says...
2:58pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Unfortunately I do not think we have a democratically elected local council either. Nor do I trust them to make decisions based on the interests of us, the elecorate, rather than based on party politics and self interest.
Why are PR systems used to elect MEPs and the Mayor of London but not our own MPs? Until we get true PR I will continue to have a jaundiced view of most politicians.
Theyouthmatters
says...
8:26am Tue 3 Jul 12
popleyrebel2 wrote:If you had common sense and looked at the consituency map you can clearly see the western fringe of Basingsoke's Roman Road going along the side
The original popleyrebel2 without the./full stop after the 2.
Quote from Keep_Calm_And_Commen
t
“Indeed. Manydown is in Sir George Young's constituency as far as I can tell”
Un-quote.
So you’re not fully convinced that Manydown is in Sir George Young's constituency.
(Only as far as you can tell) by using Postcode and office address.
Furthermore, when did your investigation start in to who is the MP for Manydown, did it start on Sat 30 Jun 12 when it was raised by Theyouthmatters, (on this thread?)
Another quote from you.
Keep_Calm_And_Commen
t says...
8:50pm Wed 18 Apr 12
“Much that I find what the local Tory freemasons did abhorrent in relation to Manydown”
I take it, that’s all “local Tories” including our Tory MP Maria Miller?
Maria Millier is MP of Basingstoke/Chineham
/Old Basing.
ManyDown is 100% Sir George Youngs Constitency however
I do have to say it would mainly affect people who live in Maria's
but those Nimbys who live near there are to blame for the fugly flats and tiny house crashed in the middle of Basingstoke.
Opinions_opinions
says...
2:42pm Tue 3 Jul 12
bury's and build some houses there. I am sure I have just saved Basingstoke and Deane council £10,000's by making that decision in 10 seconds rather than the 450 day it normally takes them to have a solid idea.
I am sure there are many more brownfield sites in and around Basingstoke that could also be used for housing before we start using greenfield sites. But that does not take the focus away from Manydown and the way the council have acted and wasted our taxpayers money.
popleyrebel2
says...
6:37pm Tue 3 Jul 12
It’s important to remember that Maria Miller is our MP and it was her Council (BDBC) that acted unlawfully in their protection of Manydown.
That said, Sir George Young (leader of the house) and Tory MP for Manydown has also remained silent, so we have a Tory administration (BDBC) and two Tory MPs all very tight- lipped,
Therefore, you could call it a conspiracy in order to protect their own interest.
Echoes of Dame Shirley Porter leader of Westminster Council back in 1987, the Gerrymandering Queen.
Best_Name_Ever
says...
9:47am Wed 4 Jul 12
Opinions_opinions wrote:I agree. I would much rather you personally make all the decisions about further development in Basingstoke within 10 seconds. I am sure the place will flourish under such thorough scrutiny and deliberation of proposals put forward.
Scrao the proposed Tesco site near Asda/Morrisons/Sains
bury's and build some houses there. I am sure I have just saved Basingstoke and Deane council £10,000's by making that decision in 10 seconds rather than the 450 day it normally takes them to have a solid idea.
I am sure there are many more brownfield sites in and around Basingstoke that could also be used for housing before we start using greenfield sites. But that does not take the focus away from Manydown and the way the council have acted and wasted our taxpayers money.
Theyouthmatters
says...
10:36am Wed 4 Jul 12
Opinions_opinions wrote:But it's leased for Commercial/Industria
Scrao the proposed Tesco site near Asda/Morrisons/Sains
bury's and build some houses there. I am sure I have just saved Basingstoke and Deane council £10,000's by making that decision in 10 seconds rather than the 450 day it normally takes them to have a solid idea.
I am sure there are many more brownfield sites in and around Basingstoke that could also be used for housing before we start using greenfield sites. But that does not take the focus away from Manydown and the way the council have acted and wasted our taxpayers money.
l use.
Theyouthmatters
says...
10:38am Wed 4 Jul 12
Opinions_opinions wrote:Also people with Ideas like that are the ones who complain about "Anti-Social Behavour"
Scrao the proposed Tesco site near Asda/Morrisons/Sains
bury's and build some houses there. I am sure I have just saved Basingstoke and Deane council £10,000's by making that decision in 10 seconds rather than the 450 day it normally takes them to have a solid idea.
I am sure there are many more brownfield sites in and around Basingstoke that could also be used for housing before we start using greenfield sites. But that does not take the focus away from Manydown and the way the council have acted and wasted our taxpayers money.
Well if we keep squishing in tiny houses in small spaces that's what happens.
We need to expand outsite of the town so we can have bigger houses which in turn means less anti-social behaviour.
Opinions_opinions
says...
11:05am Wed 4 Jul 12
Opinions_opinions says...
2:21pm Fri 29 Jun 12