The claims were not constrained to leaflets in Leckhampton, where the issue is particularly sensitive and where campaigners of all political allegiance have until now been diligent about encouraging cross party support to save the fields from development.
They also put them in leaflets which went out elsewhere in the town where the issue perhaps has a little less resonance. Interestingly although they won the Leckhampton seat, the Liberal Democrats did well in the election, retaining 25 seats and control of the council and the Conservatives ended up with one less council seat.
Following complaints about the Conservative leaflets the police were asked to consider whether or not an offence had been committed. No further action is being taken against the Tories and interestingly their leader Cllr Duncan Smith claims that their strange interpretation of the Joint Core Strategy was based on two things.
Following complaints about the Conservative leaflets the police were asked to consider whether or not an offence had been committed. No further action is being taken against the Tories and interestingly their leader Cllr Duncan Smith claims that their strange interpretation of the Joint Core Strategy was based on two things.
He points to the fact that the ruling Lib Dem party rejected a Conservative amendment to defer the JCS and only support the minimum house-building scheme (Scenario A of the Joint Core Strategy) when councillors discussed the matter in November 2011.
BUT he clearly does not understand that Scenario A of the JCS which put forward the lowest housing numbers and which was supported by the Tories in their motion included 350 houses at Land West of Farm Lane.
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| Land West of Farm Lane within Tewkesbury Borough Councils boundary. Allocated for 350 houses in Scenario A of the Joint Core Strategy supported by Cheltenham Tories. |
This allocation is something that LEGLAG and many local residents have fought against tooth and nail. Scenario A is certainly not something that any knowledgeable councillor for the area should support without this parcel of land being removed from it.
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| Martin Horwood MP, Cllr Klara Sudbury and fellow opponents of the proposed development of Land West of Farm Lane protest outside Tewkesbury Borough Council offices. |
The other reason given for justifying the garbage in the Tory leaflets is that the council's Lib Dem leadership and chief executive was on a committee (called the JCS Members Steering Group) that developed the Joint Core Strategy proposals for thousands of new homes across the county.
Well actually so are a lot of other people including Cllr Duncan Smith the Tory group leader - although I understand he has not attended the last two meetings. As he is also County Councillor for Leckhampton he is well placed should he chose to attend these meetings to stick up for Leckhampton. Sadly he seems more keen on talking the talk than walking the walk.
Below is the current membership of the JCS Members Steering Group. Cllr Jordan is only one member and has no veto or influence greater than any other person on it that would mean the JCS document could realistically or reasonably be attributed to him or indeed the Liberal Democrats.
Current Members Steering Group
Joint Core Strategy – Member Steering Group (as at February 2012)
Councillor Steve Jordan, Cheltenham Borough Council (Lib Dem)
Councillor Duncan Smith, Cheltenham Borough Council (Conservative)
Councillor Les Godwin, Cheltenham Borough Council (PAB)
Andrew North, Chief Executive, Cheltenham Borough Council
Mike Redman, Director of Built Environment, Cheltenham Borough Council
Tracey Crews, Strategic Land Use Manager, Cheltenham Borough Council
Councillor Paul James, Gloucester City Council (Conservative)
Councillor Kate Haigh, Gloucester City Council (Labour)
Councillor Jeremy Hilton, Gloucester City Council (Lib Dem)
Julian Wain, Chief Executive, Gloucester City Council
Phil Staddon, Director of Regeneration, Gloucester City Council
Mick Thorpe, Group Manager, Planning and Economy, Gloucester City Council
Tim Watton, Planning Policy Manager, Gloucester City Council
Councillor Bill Whelan, Tewkesbury Borough Council (Lib Dem)
Councillor Derek Davies, Tewkesbury Borough Council (Conservative)
Mike Dawson, Chief Executive, Tewkesbury Borough Council
Mella McMahon, Corporate Head of Borough Development, Tewkesbury Borough Council
Nigel Gilmore, Planning Policy Manager, Tewkesbury Borough Council
