The Liberal Democrats stood up for up Aylesbury Vale residents at Wednesday’s full council meeting on the Local Development Framework. At the meeting the Cllr Avril Davies, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Strategic Development Control put forward a motion calling for the missing evidence to be bought forward and for the vote to be deferred till it was available.

Cllr Davies said “the motion set out our support for the LDF in principle but tried to buy more time so that councilors could review all the evidence relevant to the direction of growth around Aylesbury. Rather than taking a finely balanced decision on partial information, which is more likely to be thrown out at public enquiry. One Tory abstained; the rest voted the motion down leaving the council deeply exposed.

We accept that any strategy for growth will disadvantage some communities and all our villages and the residents of Aylesbury have the right to have their amenities protected as far as possible. We could not support the eastern arc strategy because of the disproportionate harm that it would bring to the communities of Bierton, Brought and Watermead, the flood risks, damage to the environment and lack of clarity on creation of employment.”

A straight southern strategy is also not acceptable either because of the disproportionate effect on Stoke Mandeville. No attempt was made at scrutiny or elsewhere to consider properly the sites to the north of the town nor possible hybrid options. The Council leaders were clearly determined to force their view through the Council without even a pretence of listening to local people. This failure will make it more difficult for the Council to defend its plan at enquiry and increase the likelihood of it being thrown out by the planning inspector.

Cllr Jenny Puddefoot, who is a Councilor for Watermead and Elmhurst, an area deeply affected by the plans said “I accept that there would have been a danger to planning powers if the LDF had been defeated. But it is not acceptable to use this threat to force the council to pass something that is unsound. Broughton is one of the Vale’s most ecologically fragile areas and development was thrown out there last time. What has changed since? Noting material that I can see.”

Cllr Alan Sherwell said “The Tories have argued that a change of government will mean a change of rules so that we do not have to take these houses. The Lib Dems also believe that planning decisions must be taken locally but, if a new government means that we do not have to take all these houses, then it must also mean that will reverse any loss of our planning powers. The Tories cannot have it both ways.”

Raj Khan said “We have seen stacks of evidence but what is still missing is crucial.” Cabinet member David Thompson admitted that he had seen evidence that the other members had not. “This admission is outrageous” said Cllr Julie Ward, the Aylesbury Town Councilor who spoke out as a public speaker concerning the shortfall of evidence. “Time and again I have called for all the relevant information to be bought forward. Cllr Thompson’s response clearly indicates that there are things we have not seen. I want to know if they would have materially affected the decision.”

Cllr Steve Patrick who represents Oakfield said “residents should not be in any doubt that that the officers who have put this plan together have done so under the guidance of the Tory Cabinet. The possibility of planning becoming a series of decisions by Inspectors rather than Councillors is now very real as we believe the plan that has been put forward is unsound.”