Places for Everyone

Thank you, Mr Mayor,  

Residents and other stake holders have the opportunity to share their views on Labour’s latest version of the plan to build on Green Belt until December 6.

Despite what we have heard from Labour Leaders before… and despite what we will no doubt hear again tonight… The Places for Everyone strategy will do nothing to tackle the housing crisis. 

Expensive luxury housing on our Green Belt – Palaces for Everyone – is not the answer for families and our young people struggling to get onto the housing ladder.

The latest round of modifications that have gone out for consultation make for damning reading. 

Virtually every commitment on infrastructure development and community building has been watered down or abandoned. 

Labour are asking the people of Oldham to surrender our green spaces in return for… No new investment in roads.  No proportionate contribution to new health care services.  No new school places. 

The Liberal Democrats have consistently called for a Brownfield First approach to housing development. 

It is a challenge… I make no bones about that.  It requires hard work to get the right redevelopments of our ex-industrial heritage buildings and to achieve the right mix of housing types.  We need more social rents as well as starter homes. 

So, I want to hear the Leaders answer tonight. 

If, after the next round of local elections if one of the nine councils were to remove itself from Places for Everyone, would that be curtains for this unwanted and misguided plan?