For Chipstead, Kingswood and Woodmansterne.

Overdevelopment

When looking at posts on Next Door, I sense that residents in Chipstead, Kingswood and Woodmansterne are very keen to avoid senseless infill development which gradually changes the appearance of an area.

Green Party councillors in Reigate and Banstead Council sit on various committees of the Local Authority and try to shape policy implementation in a fairer and more sustainable direction. Greens sit on Planning Committee for instance where we are keen to avoid overdevelopment - protecting the green belt but also the green character of many areas is a core value. However, Greens recognise this often means there is infilling such as back garden schemes which over time changes an area's character and quality, as has been happening at places like Nork.

Greens are also forced to navigate Government imposed targets for housing numbers (which are based on out of date statistics) in the Local Plan whilst at the same time pushing hard for for truly affordable homes ie Council Housing or socially rented provision across our Borough. 

As Greens have to work with the policies set out in the Local Plan we cannot reject things outright but we do ensure that where for instance back garden sites are proposed for development these are very carefully scrutinised - layout and design notably density, loss of trees and biodiversity, building lines and so forth - to avoid overbearing and cramped development impacting on the community. We favour the concept of the 20 minute neighbourhood too (now in the NPPF) to encourage access to local amenities on foot and by bike ie other than the car. Avoiding unnecessarily high density infill schemes in such accessible areas is important since existing minimum standards would otherwise require high parking provision, or worse, generate off street parking and potential neighbour conflict. 

Roads

I live on a road which suffers from potholes. Potholes need to be fixed properly and that means not waiting until the whole road needs resurfacing. I will make sure broken streetlamps, blocked drains and flytipping also get sorted.

Addressing the cost-of-living and climate crises 

More help to insulate homes is a simple win/win policy here.

Democratic deficit

Conservative councillors represent our ward within a Conservative dominated council, where the Greens are the leading opposition party. More Green councillors can give residents principled opposition, and hold the Conservative Council to account.

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