Housing crisis talks criticised (From The Oxford Times)

Housing crisis talks criticised

9:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

AN emergency meeting on a Vale of White Horse housing crisis achieved nothing, it was claimed.

Liberal Democrats at Conservative-controlled Vale of White Horse District Council called the “extraordinary” meeting.

Members put forward a motion that was passed saying villages must use new powers to help decide where homes should go.

Thursday’s meeting was called because the district is facing a slew of housing plans for village fields because of a gap in council policies.

The motion said the council would promote “neighbourhood plans” drawn up by residents under the 2011 Localism Act.

Lib Dem leader Richard Webber said: “The Interim Housing Supply Policy may be no more but its tsunami-like after-effects will be with us for many, many months yet.”

Council and Tory group leader Matthew Barber said he was “very disappointed” by the meeting.

He said Lib Dems had shown a “significant lack of understanding” of the council’s position, adding: “No policy is proposed, no guidance is proposed.”

Ashbury Parish Council chairman Andy England said: “I think it was pretty ineffective.”