ARUN and East Hampshire both have Eco-Town proposals in their districts.
According to research group Nomis, Arun's average gross weekly pay is £389, whereas East Hampshire's is £558, more than 43 per cent higher.
East Hampshire District Council supports the Eco-Town proposals in its district, seeing the national Eco-To
wns programme as an opportunity to improve the future prospects of its citizens and as a means of reinforcing its local economy against an impending problem – the closure of a military base.
Arun District Council opposes the Eco-Town proposals in its district, seeing the national Eco-Towns programme as government interference in its local development framework (editor: planning blueprint), and an unwelcome intrusion into the lowest-paid local economy in West Sussex.
Injured pride seems to be the main concern for Arun.
Yet doesn't the government's Eco-Towns progress report state: "Where the LDF (local development framework) Core Strategy is in preparation, local authorities should include proposed Eco-Towns as an option for consideration.
"However, there is no requirement to adopt the Eco-Town if a better way of meeting future needs exists."
Of course, a local authority that has already instigated a "council-led community campaign against the proposal" (source: Arun press release, April 2008) and where the two cabinet members on its newly- created LDF project board have already voted that "the council, together with local organisations, mount a campaign against the principle of Eco-Towns in the district" (source: cabinet minutes, April 14) might struggle to meet the required standard of impartiality!
Tony Dixon,
Barons Close,
WestergateNOTE: All letters must include a name and address which can be withheld by request.
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