Government Slammed for Proposed Planning 'Power Grab' That Could Silence MK Residents' Voices

At last night's meeting of the Council, the Lib Dem Group put forward a successful motion opposing the Tory government's planning proposals that could take away Milton Keynes residents' right to oppose controversial planning applications.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Crooks proposed the motion: "The government's proposals are a power grab, and a threat to Milton Keynes. If they go ahead, we will see more and more housing that is low-standard and unaffordable."

The motion, which passed unanimously, also asks the Council to note the impact of the government's proposed planning reforms in a recent Buckinghamshire by-election.

In June, Liberal Democrat Sarah Green won the previously safe Tory seat of Chesham and Amersham with a huge majority of 8,028; one of the key issues raised during the campaign was the government's planning reform proposals.

Some of the government's proposed changes include granting automatic rights for developers to build on land identified as 'for growth', and removing locally agreed payments from developers that would normally go towards infrastructure.

Councillor Crooks concluded: "The people of Milton Keynes should be leading on planning, not developers, and I am relieved my fellow councillors agree."