We must build more homes
Attempts by a Conservative-dominated South East England Regional Assembly (Seera) to stop a democratically-elected Government plan to tackle the housing crisis is disgraceful (Oxford Mail, July 15).
While such a decision to limit house building in the area might please such selfish minority interest groups as the CPRE (Campaign for the Preservation of Real Estate Values), they will not be thanked by the two million people seeking homes in the region over the next decade.
As a result of this politically motivated decision, essential services like the National Health Service, schools and the Post Office will find it harder to find enough staff.
Nor will employees welcome the assembly's decision, as their quality of life will be threatened as they are forced to spend increasing amounts of time away from their families, stuck in traffic jams on the way to work.
This bad decision by the assembly is just another example of just how out of touch the Conservative Party is with the electorate.
Fortunately, this vote by the assembly is not binding on John Prescott's plans for the South East, and the region will get the new housing it so desperately needs.
NICHOLAS NEWMAN
Editor, www.Oxfordprospect.co.uk
