THE accusation that Liberal Democrats made a “political decision” to concentrate new housing in Saltford and Keynsham has been countered by a local councillor.
Duncan Hounsell (Lib Dem) dismissed as a “wild claim” the statement in a leaflet issued to local households by fellow Saltford councillor Chris Warren.
The leaflet, entitled ‘Saltford Under Siege’ was distributed in the village on behalf of Cllr Warren, a member of the Independents for B&NES group.
In it, Cllr Warren is critical of both the B&NES draft local plan – which recommends where new housing developments could be built until 2043 – and the West of England Combined Authority’s proposals to shape the future of travel along the A4 between Bath and Bristol.
He states that if the proposals are implemented in full, they would create “a permanent and disastrous change to our lovely village, its surroundings and our quality of life.”
Cllr Warren points out that the three Saltford sites earmarked for potential new housing in the local plan are on land that was designated green belt to prevent urban sprawl.
“Yet what is being forced on us is precisely that, the further joining up of Keynsham and Saltford.”
Cllr Warren then turns on the B&NES Liberal Democrats for what he terms their “betrayal”.
“Since those infamous words of Lib Dem councillor Matt McCabe’s public statement “there’s no point fighting this”, it is now crystal clear that a political decision has been made to concentrate housing in our area, putting immense pressure on the A4, schools and medical provision.”
Cllr Hounsell responded to this claim at the January meeting of Saltford Parish Council.
He said: “This statement is untrue because it would be illegal to make such a decision and predetermine the outcome of the public consultations.
“The local plan is being developed at arm’s length by the planning department under delegated powers. There can be no political interference in a process whose steps are set out in law. If there were political interference, B&NES Council and individual councillors would have serious consequences.
“My party group has never discussed formally or informally the options for housing allocations. Options for Saltford had to be considered only because of Labour’s doubling of the housing target and local landowners offering their land for future housing.
“The only way to resist inappropriate housing development is by providing sound planning objections site by site in the public consultations.
“I thank all the residents in Saltford who did this and responded to the recent consultation and the earlier one at the start of 2024.”
In the leaflet, Cllr Warren also says Saltford faces the prospect of being overwhelmed by traffic because of the district recycling centre in Pixash Lane, Keynsham, new housing developments on the A4 and, potentially, a new Aldi store.
“However, when these points are put to Liberal Democrats, they seem to glaze over and be in denial.”
He also accuses B&NES Lib Dems of hiding behind Bath’s world heritage status to protect the city from new housing, forcing the burden onto other parts of the district, and for allowing student accommodation to be built in Bath instead of housing.
Cllr Hounsell commented: “This ‘Independents for B&NES’ group is a small group of three on the council and is hostile to the B&NES Lib Dem administration. I expect more such posturing from them.”
The Voice approached Cllr Warren for a response but received no reply by the time this item was posted.
‘Political decision’ on local plan claim denied
