As someone who has campaigned tirelessly for our community, I understand the need for new homes. Young families need affordable places to live, and our local economy benefits from well-planned development. But let me be clear: I am no NIMBY. I know we need more homes, but they must be built in the right places, with the right infrastructure in place first.
Labour’s latest plans, announced by Angela Rayner, to strip power from local planning committees are a step in the wrong direction. They want to ride roughshod over the views of local people, handing control to bureaucrats in Westminster. This isn’t about meeting housing needs; it’s about centralising power and allowing developers to push through projects that could harm our communities and destroy cherished green wedges.
Our green wedges are vital to the character of our area. They provide space for recreation, protect biodiversity, and act as natural boundaries between towns and villages. Paving over these areas without proper consideration would not only harm our environment but also put immense strain on our local services schools, healthcare, and roads that are already under pressure.
What’s worse is Labour’s clear message to voters through the candidates they select. They are not interested in local issues or genuinely representing our communities. Their MP lives in Braunstone, miles from the heart of our constituency. Their Coalville District Councillor resides in Blackfordby, not Coalville. And now they want to impose a Coalville County Councillor who lives in Markfield. How can they claim to understand or care about the needs of Coalville and its surrounding areas when they consistently select candidates who don’t even live here? It takes more than popping over at weekends for a strategic photo at events to understand what representing your community actually means.
What’s even worse is the hypocrisy of NWL Labour councillors. They stand on doorsteps claiming to oppose overdevelopment, but their party’s national policy will take away local control and fast-track developments without proper scrutiny. You can’t claim to be protecting the countryside while backing a party intent on undermining local democracy and ignoring community concerns.
I firmly believe in building homes where they’re needed, but it must be done with a plan. We need infrastructure first schools, GP surgeries, public transport, and roads that can handle the additional demand. Without this, new developments create chaos for existing residents and offer little to those moving into the area. This isn’t just about housing numbers; it’s about building sustainable communities that people are proud to call home.
Under Conservative leadership, we’ve always championed localism, empowering councils to make decisions that reflect the needs and wishes of their communities. Labour’s centralising agenda threatens to undo this progress, turning development into a free-for-all that benefits developers, not residents.
I will continue to stand up for our community, ensuring that we have a real say in shaping its future. We need homes, yes but they must be in the right places, with the infrastructure to support them. Anything less would be a betrayal of the people I’ve been elected to represent. Together, let’s protect our green spaces, our countryside, and our right to decide what’s best for our community.
