“I don’t want to see any houses built on the EDA

These were the measured words last night of council leader, Rod Bluh, when challenged by Swindon MP, Michael Wills, over controversial plans to build 12,000 homes to the east of the A419.

At a lively meeting attended by around 250 people at Covingham+Park+Primary">Covingham Park Primary School, Mr Wills promised he would take up with Government ministers both residents’ and the council’s opposition to the rapid expansion of Swindon’s housing over the next 25 years.

As part of a regional strategy, Swindon has been tasked to build 37,000 homes – a third of them on the Eastern Development Area.

Mr Wills promised: “I will go back to ministers and say this council does not want to build 37,000 houses. I am not sure they want to build 32,000.

“But this is a planning process and there is no way the Conservatives will stop house-building in this country. After all, Swindon needs affordable homes.

“But what I have not heard from any of the councillors here tonight is do they want a single house to be built on the EDA. Yes or no?”

Phil Young, a ward councillor and also the portfolio holder for culture, regeneration and economic development, answered with a single “no”.

Coun Bluh responded: “It is not want the council wants, it is what the council does. We have to respond to housing needs and to housing demand. If, for example, there is a need to build 15,000 homes in Swindon over the next 25 years, then there will not be any houses on the EDA.

“I would prefer to see no homes built on the EDA because of issues of infrastructure. I am not going to responsibly say there will be no homes built on the EDA.”

But to cheers from the audience, chair Brian Osbourn, who is chairman of Covingham Parish Council, said: “Please answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’” to which the Conservative leader replied: “Personally, I do not want any houses built on the EDA.”

Also on the panel was ward councillor Coun Dale Heenan, who also heads up Swindon’s planning committee.

At a lively meeting, local residents expressed fears of flooding and the impact of a major house build on the environment.

One resident asked if the housing development at Wichelstowe was struggling for completion why there was a need to develop to the east of Swindon?

Concerns were also voiced about the pressures 12,000 new homes would have on roads, schools, hospitals and other local services. “We shouldn’t be worrying about new homes, we should be worrying about what we have got and whether the hospitals, schools and roads can cope,” expressed one lady, before adding: “And where are all these people going to find jobs?”

Several residents claimed the council were being steamrollered into building the homes by the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

However Coun Young hit back: “We don’t believe it is a done deal.

“This council recently put forward a motion to challenge the regional spatial strategy saying we don’t accept these houses have to come to Swindon. We won’t be steamrollered, we have to fight it.”

Coun Heenan added: “It is Conservative policy to scrap housing targets. Surely it is for the council to decide what level of growth should take place.”

Earlier, Coun Bluh had said that it did not matter how many homes were built in Swindon, but it was vital that there was the right quality investment in the town, along with the right infrastructure.

“I don’t accept the regional spatial strategy, but I do accept the need to see growth in Swindon,” he said, insisting it was important the town came out of the recession able to attract investment and create jobs.

He also pointed out that they had to be careful because if the council fought to the bitter end to oppose house-building pushed through the Government, then on appeal they could lose out on lucrative Section 106 cash from developers which would help develop the infrastructure.

Michael Wills described the EDA has one of the most important single issues Swindon has faced for the last decade. He too wanted to see growth and prosperity in the town.

“Rod is right, we need to identify the quality of that growth,” he explained.

But another resident countered: “I don’t want further growth in Swindon. I want Swindon to be consolidated to provide the facilities it is currently lacking.”

The Swindon North MP pointed out that it is estimated the world’s economy will double in size in future years, while what was being discussed for the EDA was an estimated £3billion worth of housing development.

While not suggesting that the EDA should be targeted, Mr Wills explained: “We have to make a judgement over the next 10 or 20 years.

“We have to have affordable housing in the town. I am afraid more houses have to be built.”