Tories betray Surrey's Greenbelt

4.36.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Oct 2004

Conservatives on Surrey County Council have refused to amend the Surrey Structure Plan to delete the proposal to build new housing in the green belt north east of Guildford. Liberal Democrats believe that keeping this proposal in the plan, even as a last resort will set a very dangerous precedent that may result in further threats to Surrey's green belt.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Tom Sharp said: "By refusing to delete the proposal for housing development in the green belt, the Conservative administration at County Hall has failed Surrey's people."

He added: "This will be the last Structure Plan produced by Surrey County Council. The next one will be the responsibility of the South East of England Regional Assembly. This Assembly is an unelected quango introduced by the Labour Government in which Nick Skellett, the Tory Leader of Surrey County Council, plays a prominent role. He should have stood up for Surrey's green belt. Instead he has opened the door to further threats to our green belt."

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Mary Laker said: "Green belt is sacrosanct and that has to be absolutely clear in our Structure Plan. Our duty as County Councillors is to protect the green belt. It is a pity that the Conservatives on Surrey County Council do not feel the same way."