Lib Dems step up pressure over Waldens Farm

9.55.04am GMT Mon 13th Sep 2004

David McBride and Chris Maines at Waldens Farm

Liberal Democrat councillors David McBride and Chris Maines have stepped up the pressure on the Council and the Government over the problems at Waldens Farm, in St Mary Cray.

The pressure from the two councillors comes in the same week as a caravan was removed from the site on the orders of a County Court judge.

Cllr David McBride, who represents Cray Valley East Ward, has tabled a motion which will be debated at the Council meeting on 20th September. The motion, if passed, will call on the Government to give Councils more powers to deal with the problems of mass unauthorised development in the Green Belt quicker than they are able to do at the moment. "The problem at the moment is that the current planning laws mean that the Council is limited to what it can do to protect residents in the Green Belt from people who know how to play the planning system to their advantage. Pressure needs to be put on the Government to give Councils the power to deal with the problem quicker. It is not just about Waldens Farm, the issue applies to other areas of Green Belt land in the Borough," said Cllr McBride.

Cllr McBride and Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Chris Maines have also received hundreds of signatures on their petition to urge the Council to compulsory purchase Waldens Farm, to make it easier to deal with the caravans on the site. "The Council must show it is serious about protecting the Green Belt and the residents in the area," said Cllr Maines, "I urge the Council Leader to heed the request of hundreds of local residents and the local councillors and apply for a CPO for the site."