Fears for Rugby

One of the reasons I was so pleased to be selected as Parliamentary Spokesman for Rugby Conservatives is that Rugby has been my home throughout my life apart from my time at University and a few years working in London immediately afterwards.I’ve seen what life is like elsewhere, and along with Tracy, decided that we wanted to make our home here because it’s a good place to live, work and bring up our children. Like many others we like the character, size and “market town” feel of Rugby.

So the proposals set our in the Regional Spatial Strategy Phase 2 Revision from The West Midlands Regional Assembly are a real concern. The major impact for Rugby is a change in the housing growth options with three annual build rates being being proposed for the period 2001 to 2026. Option 1 of 284 new dwellings per year represents a rate which is less than the past four years; option 2 of 524 is higher, and option 3 of 924 is significantly higher than any figure that has ever previously been contemplated for housing in Rugby. Option 3, if adopted, would lead to the doubling in the size of Rugby over a period of 20 years.

This Government seems to have a thing about this area; not so long ago we were faced with the threat of a massive new airport at Church Lawford and, of course, successfully campaigned against that. Option 3 would involve a similarly fundamental change to our local environment and I will be opposing it strongly. I recognise that Rugby must develop, and take it’s fair share of the house building that is necessary as a consequence of today’s smaller households and the failure to keep up with housing demand over the past ten years (which incidentally is a reason for ever increasing house prices making it more and more difficult for our young people to make a start on the housing ladder). But these proposals are beyond anything that should ever be considered, and I believe they are flawed and not properly thought through.

If you agree, and wish to oppose them you can respond to the questionnaire on the Regional Assembly Website.
You could also sign the online petition organised by Rugby Conservatives by clicking here.