So desperate were the Conservative cabinet to avoid allowing the Horsley Cross site to be included in Tendring’s Local Plan as Employment land that it has actually voted against its own Local Plan.
In a firm but respectful debate at last night’s meeting of Tendring District Council, Labour tabled the only amendment to the proposed Local Plan arguing for the inclusion of the Horsley Cross site.
It had been repeatedly argued by the administration’s Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Cllr Sarah Candy, that the Horsley Cross site was unacceptable because a) it would jeopardise the future development of Bathside Bay, b) would jeopardise the upgrading of the A120 and c) did not have the support of Essex County Council.
However, in proposing the amendment, the leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Ivan Henderson produced copies of Emails showing that neither Hutchison Ports nor the Highways Agency had any objection to the development of the Horsley Cross site and Invest Essex actually supported it.
The other reason repeatedly put forward by members of the Conservative cabinet for excluding the site was that a previous application for an industrial development at Horsley Cross had been rejected by a Planning Inspector. However, in a speech supporting Labour’s amendment, the Group’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Garry Calver, destroyed this myth by explaining that the reason that the Planning Inspector had ruled against that application was because the site was not designated as Employment land in TDC’s Local Plan. Garry Calver argued that Horsley Cross needed to be in the Local Plan to avoid TDC being placed in a similar position again.
Labour’s case was powerfully supported by the leaders of the three other opposition groups on the council and won a number of Conservatives over enabling the amendment to be passed.
At this point, the Conservative cabinet became so desperate to avoid the amended Local Plan being adopted that it actually voted against its own Local Plan. 3 Conservatives voted with the opposition and a further 9 abstained allowing the Local Plan with Horsley Cross included to be approved by 30 votes to 18. It will now go out to public consultation before being submitted by TDC officers to the Secretary of State for final approval.
Ivan Henderson says “Horsley Cross offers the only immediately available opportunity to create significant jobs close to Harwich and it is baffling why the Conservative administration is so opposed to it. Their desperation reached new heights last night but the strength of our argument was overwhelming. Labour’s amendment offers employment hope to the people of the Tendring District.”
For further information please contact: Harwich Labour Press Officer Garry Calver Tel: 01255 – 551940 Email garrycalver@btinternet.com