Government Failing to Understand Cornish Needs

3.26.44pm GMT Wed 23rd Jan 2008

In a debate on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West, Colin Breed, Liberal Democrat MP for South East Cornwall told the House that a reference in the Report to Torpoint and Saltash as being part of a wider urban area of Plymouth was offensive to many of his constituents.

Speaking afterwards, Colin Breed said:

"The Regional Spatial Strategy Report is undemocratic, unnecessary, flawed in its assumptions and a monumental waste of public money. No proper representations from elected representatives were allowed, and not even the Government's newly appointed Minister for the Region could be bothered to turn up to the debate.

It is simply an outrage that a quango of unelected officials, which is shortly to be abolished, should pronounce on such serious issues as housing, transport and the economy. The Government constantly talks about 'localism' whilst continuing to impose central diktats."