Lib Dems stall development on Dallington Grange

2.36.29pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 31st Jul 2007

Cllrs Andrew Simpson & Sally Beardsworth have voiced their concerns over development on Dallington Heath

Liberal Democrats on Northampton Borough Council have deferred the sale of Council land on Dallington Heath for housing development, demanding answers first on the environmental and financial risks to the authority.

At a meeting of the Cabinet last night, the Liberal Democrats deferred implementing a decision taken by the previous Conservative administration in February to consent to the sale of land at Dallington Grange pending further investigation of the implications for flooding, increased traffic and a possible move to compulsorily purchase the land.

Liberal Democrat backbenchers including Cllr Andrew Simpson, ward councillor for Kingsley, and Cllr Roger Conroy, ward councillor for Spencer, raised a number of concerns over a recommendation that the Council continue discussions with the Althorp Estate, owned by Earl Spencer, to reach an agreement over the sale.

Speaking to the meeting, Cllr Conroy said:

"No one has answered the question of how WNDC propose to deal with the disastrous consequences such a major housing development here would have on traffic or flooding. There is talk of potential benefits to Kings Heath, but I'm yet to hear what is being proposed or how this would be achieved."

Highlighting their concerns over the environmental impact of the proposed development, the Cabinet instead demanded further details on the risk of a Compulsory Purchase Order being used by WNDC to acquire the site.

Cllr Richard Church, portfolio holder for Regeneration, said:

"I have made my opposition to this development abundantly clear. I appreciate the need for more housing, but development on this site will have serious implications for traffic and flooding in Northampton, which have not been resolved.

"There is a risk, however, that WNDC will acquire the land through a Compulsory Purchase Order. We must be mindful of that. That is why tonight we have asked officers to commission a report assessing the risk of this happening as well as the environmental risks. If compulsory purchase were to happen it would be the worst possible deal for the people of Northampton."