Rural planning row can be solved through democracy

Local UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall MEP has weighed into the row over planning policy.

"First we need to see where the problem comes from, and then we need to come up with solutions"' he said.

"The whole row between the Government and the National Trust lead opposition to the proposed planning reforms has missed out why we are where we are now.

“It is a simple fact that 86% of the projected population increase 2004-2031 will be due to immigration. The Government’s own figures have recently showed us that migration is increasing, not, as they promised decreasing. This naturally is putting increasing pressure on limited housing stock and turbo charging demand.

"Migrationwatch and ONS figures show that 39% of new UK households, or approximately 260 homes a day are needed for immigrants. By controlling immigration, large areas of British countryside will not need to be destroyed by house building."

"So we first need to get a grip on runaway inward migration", said Mr Nuttall, UKIP’s Deputy Leader.

"Next we have to devise a fair way in which this problem can be resolved. We have a situation, particularly in Britain's rural landscape where housing has become or is rapidly becoming an impossible dream for the majority of younger people.

“If we were to apply UKIP's policy of binding local referenda on local planning decisions, local people could set plans that reflect real demand in their own communities. Britain isn't in the grip of some Nimby army.”

“The people so derided by the Government for attempting to block development are also citizens. They have families and children who are struggling to get on the housing ladder, and will make decisions that are best suited to their local communities.

“It is a symptom of the complete lack of trust that the Government have in ordinary people that they believe that people have a default position that would penalise their own children.

“In a democracy we must trust people. So by introducing UKIP local referenda policy we would do so", said Mr Nuttall.