Leading Labour figures in Milton Keynes have said they will oppose plans by Buckinghamshire Council to build a new housing estate on the city border.
A new version of the Aylesbury Vale Local Plan has been published by Buckinghamshire Council, which covers the area to the west of Milton Keynes.
The plans want to allocate an area of land next to Oxley Park and Kingsmead, but located in Buckinghamshire Council’s boundaries, for growth of around 1,800 houses. The estate will be known as Shenley Park.
When then plans were first published, Milton Keynes Council submitted modifications such as the need for infrastructure and grid roads, however Labour figures in the city claim that Buckinghamshire Council have ignored these requests and plan to proceed with plans that do not include a grid road.
But the Conservatives in Milton Keynes have hit back and said Labour have "no credibility when it comes to defending Milton Keynes against reckless growth" and added that they will also oppose the plans.
Cllr Anthony Brown, Labour ward councillor for Tattenhoe, and Chair of the Development Control Committee, has said that Milton Keynes Council will oppose the plans in any way they can unless they are changed to reflect the fact that it will be "an extension to Milton Keynes".
And Milton Keynes Council Leader Pete Marland has described Buckinghamshire Council's leadership as "shameless hypocrites" on growth and says that the city council will "use every tool open to us to oppose this scheme".
Cllr Anthony Brown said: “Conservative Buckinghamshire Council are proposing an extension to Milton Keynes and effectively to my ward. It is poorly planned bolt on growth to Milton Keynes."
"Milton Keynes Labour oppose it and Milton Keynes Council will continue to oppose it unless they acknowledge the truth and agree to MK levels of infrastructure and a grid road.”
“We all know that good quality, truly affordable housing is needed, but done in the right way."
"This new estate will be part of MK. It needs to be built like MK and Buckinghamshire Council need to accept that it will impact on the services of MK."
"I bet it will be marketed and sold as being part of Milton Keynes, it’s even going to be called Shenley Park!”
Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes Council said: “The Conservative leadership of Buckinghamshire are shameless hypocrites on growth."
"Only last month they made a big song and dance about our MK Futures 2050 plans, yet here they are again with Shenley Park proposing reckless growth on our borders that pay no respect to the infrastructure values of MK, our unique character or our grid roads."
"Just like Salden Chase, the local Conservatives say one thing and do another on growth. The people of Milton Keynes will pay because villages in wealthy South Bucks areas like Little Calfont won’t take their fair share of growth.”
“Make no mistake unless these plans change we will use every tool open to us to oppose this scheme for as long as it takes. At their plan inspection. At every planning stage. Every single step forward they take will be a grinding fight for them to deliver this extension to Milton Keynes."
"I feel for the surrounding towns and villages of Buckinghamshire as they must now fear that they will be the next extension to Milton Keynes pushed by Conservative Buckinghamshire Council but without any proper planning.”
Milton Keynes Conservative Group Leader Cllr Alex Walker said: "Labour have no credibility when it comes to defending Milton Keynes against reckless growth."
"They must have forgotten they run Milton Keynes Council and wanted to double MK’s population in just 30 years and forced through plans for thousands of homes over the M1, despite overwhelming public opposition."
"Local Conservative Councillors are working hard against the Shenley Park development and I am fully behind them."
