Cllr David Hopkins has labelled the Labour administration as ‘pathetic and inept’ after they amended and withdrew his motion on the impact of construction dust on the health of residents who live near major housebuilding sites.
Cllr Hopkins, ward member for Danesborough and Walton, brought this motion to Council after he
and his residents became increasingly concerned about the level of dust present in and around residential areas and schools located near the ever-present urban expansion areas in MK.
Cllr Hopkins asked the Council to listen to these concerns of his residents, and undoubtedly others
across the city, and commit to an independent report to be commissioned into the impacts of
construction dust on the health of local residents.
However, Cllr Mahendran, representing the Labour Group, chose to focus their amendments on
national politics and completely remove the motion rather than acknowledging the importance of this
issue to local MK residents.
Cllr Hopkins comments “My item to council simply asked
1. Is there a serious health concern for residents (and in particular our youngest residents) posed
by living in a dust contaminated environment over a continuous period of time (often many
years).
2. That the council agrees that the only way to assess this is by way of an independent commissioned report the results of which forming part of all future strategic planning documentation.
3. That area such as Wavendon & Woburn Sands have done their bit, in the case of Wavendon e
growing from 300 to 3300 homes over seven years with 4000 more in the pipeline ,should be
granted a period of time to allow local mass developments to cease and communities to, as it
were, bed in and become established. Labour chose to highjack the motion and then shut it down by withdrawing it. ”
Cllr Hopkins continues “What are they so afraid of? We shall always place the interests of residents first when it comes to health and wellbeing matters. The attempt to divert attention from the item to a rant on national politics, then shut down any debate before it happens belittles the role of the local council and places the council in disrepute”
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