“Dean Russell must stand up for Watford” say Lib Dems

Liberal Democrat Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor and the Cabinet member for Planning, Cllr Glen Saffery, are calling on Watford MP Dean Russell to stand up to the government and fight unfair housing targets. 

According to reports, dozens of Conservative MPs are backing an amendment to the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill that will scrap the top down housing targets. These targets put pressure on areas like Watford to build tall if they want to protect green spaces. They remove power from communities to shape their local area in a way that works for them. At the time of writing, Watford MP Dean Russell has so far failed to sign the amendment.

Watford Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Lib Dem Councillor Glen Saffery, said:

“It is about time that the MP for Watford put loyalty to this town above his loyalty to the Conservative party. These housing targets place an unfair burden on our town and do not take into account local circumstances. Watford's public services and infrastructure can't support these targets.

“Dean Russell is always quick to attack the council on planning but doesn’t seem to do anything to fix the real cause of the problem – unfair national planning rules and housing targets, and his government's failure to deliver the services we need. If we keep Tory housing targets and the unfair Tory planning system, we will have more Tory towers in Watford.”

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said:

“The current system of targets is not working and is forcing us to build higher. These unfair national targets must be scrapped and local people given more say. I want the MP for Watford to stand up for our town and back the amendment.”