Local Policies

This page sets out my views on key issues as they affect East Herts and is not comprehensive. Conservative policies on other national issues can be found at www.conservatives.com

Stansted Airport - no second runway

I have consistently opposed the building of a second runway at Stansted and have worked closely with Stop Stansted Expansion and other MPs to make our views known locally and at Westminster.

David Cameron has made it clear that a Conservative Government would refuse a second runway being built at Stansted. If Labour is re-elected to Government, they will grant a new runway planning permission, despite the overwhellming opposition of our community.

Give planning power back to the people

I have strongly opposed John Prescott's regional plans and the unaccountable quango which is trying to impose the building of over 80,000 houses in Hertfordshire. I therefore welcome Conservative plans to scrap regional spatial strategies and the regional planning body and to give back to East Herts Council the power to set a Local Plan. This will make the Local Plan accountable to us all.

A Conservative Government would make Local Plans, truly local. This means involving people and local neighbourhoods in creating the priorities for their Local Plan. It also means that we will abolish the power of planning inspectors to rewrite Local Plans.

No to Harlow North

The worst example of Labour's regional plans has been the attempt by speculative developers to get permission to build on 3,000 acres of green fields between Sawbridgeworth, Hunsdon and Stanstead Abbotts. Half of the land is Green Belt and the development would swallow up many of the local villages including Eastwick & Gilston, High Wych, and Hunsdon, let alone destroy important wildlife habitats.

I have worked with local campaigners to oppose this scheme since its first inception and I believe that Conservative planning policy offers the best guarantee to stop this scheme. A Conservative Government would scrap regional housing targets, give the power to East Herts Council to devise a new Local Plan and to remove undesirable elements of the old Regional Spatial Strategy. Its time to say no to Harlow North.

Local Housing for local people

Conservative planning and housing policies will make it easier to provide more affordable local housing for local people.

First, we will empower local communities to develop affordable homes for local people, through the formation of local housing trusts. Second, we will provide financial incentives to local councils for each affordable house built.Third, we will relax the rules that prevent thousands of habitable empty properties being used to house those on local authority waiting lists. Together these policies will help increase supply so that local families have a much better chance of being housed.

A better local NHS

Straight after the 2005 election, Labour scrapped the planned Hatfield hospital. This was a cynical act, given their promises a few weeks before.

I have since campaigned for better local health facilities, such as at County Hospital, Hertford, backed GPs against threats to local surgeries and lobbied for better primary care facilities in Hertford and Bishop's Stortford. We have secured an Urgent Care Centre (UCC)  in Hertford and I shall continue the fight for better access to primary care in Bishop's Stortford, including a UCC.

Supporting our town centres

I believe we need to help our historic town centres compete and adapt. If they decline the whole community suffers. That's why I have opposed out of town supermarket plans for Hertford and Ware and backed local shops.

A Conservative Government will strengthen the planning system to support our high streets and make small business rate relief automatic, saving firms up to £1,200 per annum. We will also give councils complete freedom to provide local business rate discounts, funded locally. This could make a real difference to struggling high streets and secondary shopping parades.

Ending the hunt ban

I voted against the ban on hunting with hounds, on grounds of personal freedom. If the opportunity comes to vote to repeal the ban I would vote to support this.