New Powers for the London Mayor
Posted by David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, at 10:08, Wed 26 July 2006:
Dear Constituent
I am writing to ask for your views on the proposed new powers for the Mayor of London, which were announced by the Government on July 13.
There is great concern that with new powers on planning, the Mayor of London could overrule planning decisions or direct decisions of strategic importance against the wishes of local people. With increasing concern regarding overdevelopment, it is felt that these powers could seriously affect the population density of our Borough.
There are also concerns about plans for five super-boroughs, new powers specifically on housing and on learning and skills.
I would be grateful for your views.
Yours
DAVID EVENNETT MP Bexleyheath and Crayford
Comments
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Posted by Edith Speller, 10:32, Wed 26 July 2006: (Is this post abusive?) #
I hadn't heard much about this before, and people responding to this message might want to find out what the plans actually are, so I've found a couple of useful links:
http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=8621 (Press release on the issue)
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1500896 (The full documents explaining the plans)
I've not yet had a chance to read and digest these, so will post again with my views once I have.
Edith Speller
Posted by Ian Seale, 14:33, Wed 26 July 2006: (Is this post abusive?) #
OK. I hadn't heard much about this either.
Being objective about it for one moment, on the whole it appears to be a good thing.
However, the Mayor's recent push for a Thames Gateway Bridge, was underlined by gross distortions of fact and a complete ignorance of the feelings and negative impact of the scheme on Bexley in favour of the percieved positives for Newham.
Regards planning controls, it would be right and proper that developments of whatever kind (Incinerators for instance) would not be to the detriment of one London Borough and the benefit of another.
Regards Housing particularly, recent press reports have shown John Prescott's housing plans for the South East to be ill thought out, in that there is much 'brownfield' space in the Thames corridor that could, and is therefore likely to be, developed - The Mayor's housing strategy, whatever changes there are to his powers, may be dictated to him.
On that note though, I thoroughly welcome the re re-classification of domestic garden space back to Green Belt, rather than brownfield. This will at least in some way ensure that densities in already built up areas do not increase beyond their current (and designed) limits.
Posted by Barrie Linford, 19:01, Thu 27 July 2006: (Is this post abusive?) #
I am deeply concerned with the Mayor being given new powers. Although many of the changes that have taken place have been benificial, most of these would have taken place within the existing London Boroughs anyway, there are others that seem to be more about his personal preferences and not about the majority of the electorates views.
We are constantly told in his own personal newspaper that the majority support the measures he takes. I have never seen anybody or have heard of anybody in the Bexley Borough who have been canvassed to support these comments
If these powers are agreed to we will see even more money and resources poured into the East of Lonodn to the detriment of the rest of the London Boroughs. I am totally against any further extension of the Mayors powers,
Posted by David Evennett, 09:36, Fri 28 July 2006: (Is this post abusive?) #
Further to my post on 25 July, I have written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly MP, to express concerns held by constituents and I regarding the proposed new powers to be given to the Mayor of London.
If you would like to have a copy of her reply, please email me your address by clicking this link: http://www.writetothem.com.
Many thanks for your comments and emails, I am very grateful for your views.
DAVID EVENNETT MP (Bexleyheath and Crayford)