1,500 responses received in consultation on Labour's flawed Local Plan

More than 1,500 responses were received to the consultation on Labour administration's draft local plan, in part due to the hard work of Lib Dem councillors in spreading the word in their wards and encouraging residents to respond.

Telford and Wrekin’s Liberal Democrat councillors had criticised the Labour administration’s draft plan for “paying lip service” to climate change and infrastructure needs.

Focus newsletters in Lib Dem-held wards played a key role in ensuring that residents were aware the consultation was happening.

Whilst climate change has been added as a strategic priority within the draft plan, Lib Dem councillors have highlighted lack of consideration of sustainable transport in the selection of new sites, as well as lack of ambition on renewable energy.

“Many of the major new sites are in locations without easy access to a railway station and where existing roads are already at capacity such as Admaston, Shawbirch and around Muxton and Newport,” Cllr Bill Tomlinson highlighted. “Bus services are also inadequate in all of these areas. Many new residents will have little choice but to commute by car on already clogged up roads, increasing our borough’s carbon emissions.”

The Lib Dem opposition are calling for changes to the local planning framework to ensure that sustainable transport is integral to the selection of new sites for development, alongside stronger integration of on-site renewable energy.