The disarray that surrounds Wigan Council’s vision for housing has deepened after Andy Burnham apparently slammed the latest version of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).
GMSF could have been fantastic. It was an opportunity for Wigan Council to set out a vision for the development of our communities for generations to come. They could have set out plans for better roads, more school places, and new medical and leisure facilities. They could have delivered stronger communities for the next generation but instead it is becoming increasingly clear they simply have no vision for anyone.
The government devolved powers over infrastructure, services and housing to local councils who are meant to best understand what their residents want and need. Instead, we’re hearing of a deadlock and infighting between council leaders and the Mayor over the plans for our future development. It is clear they are not only confused about how to use their new powers but are also confused about what local people really want.
A few weeks ago, it was announced that the 830 new houses in the south Atherton development have passed the first stages of the planning process which is a huge disappointment for local residents especially when there is no assurance about improved infrastructure and there is plenty of brown field land in need of regeneration.
In the first iteration of the GMSF, 27,000 people wrote in to contribute to the consultation and many of them raised concerns about the councils apparent ‘green field first’ policy. Everything I’ve heard about the latest draft suggests that that is still the policy and our communities will continue to sprawl and lose their identity.
There is still time for our local councils to understand our needs but we ought not to hold our breath.
Brexit is never far from the headlines and Labour have made sure that it is going to be a looming presence for many more years to come. Labour’s conference has agreed to fight for a second referendum on the EU which will take a year to have and years more to debate and negotiate afterwards.
Labour’s top brass have come up from London to undermine the decision of the British people and serve the interests of the EU bureaucrats. They clearly aren’t listening to the people who overwhelmingly voted to leave the EU and want our politicians to just get on with it.
The voice of local people could not have been more clear than at the huge Leave Means Leave rally at the Bolton stadium in my constituency over the weekend. Speaking at the rally, it was clear to me that since the referendum, people have not regretted their decision to leave the EU. In fact, people tell me that they are more certain than ever and many remainers, seeing the behaviour of the EU during the negotiations, would now vote to leave.
Kate Hoey, one of the few Labour Members of Parliament to vote and campaign to leave the EU, spoke passionately about the threat to our democracy if Brexit is not delivered. People talk about “crashing out” of the EU or having “no deal” but Kate Hoey was clear that ‘no deal is no problem’.
We don’t have a trade deal with the USA but we have a great trading relationship with them in goods and services. We don’t have a trade deal with China but no one would believe that it stops Chinese products being available in our shops. No deal simply means World Trade Organisation rules which are good for our trade with those countries and many more around the world.
Nigel Farage, who has had to work with the Brussels bureaucrats for many years captured the mood in the packed hall when he said escaping from the EU will be a huge opportunity for the United Kingdom.
David Davis MP, who resigned over the Chequers proposals, made it clear that Brexit will give the British people huge opportunities in an increasingly globalised world. The EU will not adapt to the challenges of the forth industrial revolution but the UK can and will. There are huge opportunities in Life Science, genetics and artificial intelligence that Britain already leads the world in and outside the EU we will be so much stronger.
It's a pity that Labour don’t have a vision for the future and can’t cope with the present.