Letter: The Conservatives Used To Stand Up for the Countryside

Published on: 21 Nov, 2013
Updated on: 21 Nov, 2013

From Michael Bruton

In the debate over the Guildford Local Plan, Guildford councillors are ignoring declared government policy, namely that the green belts around our major cities should be protected from development.

GBC’s attitude towards protecting our green belt is craven. The Conservative Party used to stand up for the countryside but GBC will allow it to be trashed.

The metropolitan green belt, created formally in 1947, exists as a lung for Londoners, as much as for the residents of the surrounding Home Counties. As a result London is unique amongst major capital cities in having real countryside on its doorstep.

However, in the latest Tory newsletter for Clandon and Horsley, Cllr Wicks writes of ‘unpalatable decisions’ and of ‘attempting to preserve the majority of the green belt’.

When Labour was in power, GBC saw off John Prescott’s plans for a Woking/Guildford mega town at a judicial review. So why now should local residents and those who visit our part of Surrey have to put up with such apparent weakness from local Tories when the Secretary of State is not even demanding the sacrifice of our rural heritage?

(Michael Bruton is the former Conservative Surrey county councillor for Guildford East)

Responses to Letter: The Conservatives Used To Stand Up for the Countryside

Bernard Parke Reply

November 21, 2013 at 9:39 am

Local councillors, whichever party put them in office, are there to serve and promote the wishes of the people that they represent.

They are not there to promote a misguided coalition’s policies which will help to destroy the quality of their lives.
Michael Bruton Reply

November 21, 2013 at 8:18 pm

I would like to thank Hon. Alderman Parke for his comments.

A number of us from East Horsley (and Ash and Ripley) sat through a Planning Committee meeting earlier this year. His views would seem alien to many on the committee.
Bernard Parke Reply

November 21, 2013 at 9:29 pm

I am no longer a member of the Tory party just an Independent whose only interest is in our quality of life and our children’s future.