Lib Dem Council to Talk to Developers of Western Expansion Area (Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats)

Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats <info@mk-libdems.co.uk>

Lib Dem Council to Talk to Developers of Western Expansion Area

November 17, 2008 9:31 PM

Council Leader, Councillor Isobel McCall, has announced that the Council is to enter into talks with the developers about the future layout of the Western Expansion Area (WEA).

Isobel said: "The economic downturn and the resulting delays to the Western Expansion Area open a window of opportunity for the Council to enter into talks with the developers to see if they would be willing to alter the layout of the WEA to one more in keeping with the aspirations of MK residents. Planning permissions have already been given by Milton Keynes Partnership for the Western and Eastern Expansion Areas, and work is already underway in the East. The Council has no power to withdraw these planning permissions but we can see if the WEA developer would be willing to reconsider."

Talking about the grid roads, Douglas McCall, the cabinet member with responsibility for transport strategy, said: "It is clear that Milton Keynes residents have a great affinity with the city's grid roads, and the Lib Dems are committed to maintaining and improving the current grid, which is why we fought so hard to save the V10. The recent report of the Citizens' Advisory Group on Transport (CAGOT) has come up with a possible solution to square the circle on how to have both grid roads and improved public transport, but the report says it will mean people will need to be willing to pay."

Douglas continued: "The future expansion areas beyond the western and eastern expansion areas are mostly outside Milton Keynes Council's area of control. So I have written to my cabinet counterparts in conservative-controlled Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire County Councils to inform them that MK residents would prefer the new expansion areas to have grid roads and good public transport."

CAGOT, like MK Council, recognises that grid roads are not conducive to economically viable public transport, but have come up with an alternative to achieving good public transport by designing new areas in a different way. They believe that for MK residents to keep their much loved grid roads they should all pay more through increased parking charges and council tax to provide better public transport, which would be better for bus users and car drivers alike.