Cllr Mike Cox - Gazette Article September 2007

9.35.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Sep 2007

At the last Council meeting the Liberal Democrats put a motion down condemning the destruction of family homes and demanded that the Conservative council use the opportunity of next years GLA elections to get changes to the "London Plan" to stop this trend.

The Conservatives rejected the Liberal Democrat motion in favour of congratulating a Conservative MP for putting down a private members bill which will never be passed.

I applaud those residents that took to the streets this Saturday in Ruislip to demonstrate against the destruction of good family homes. Many of these homes will be replaced by many more flats, cramming in more people and cars to the local area. Change is inevitable, but we must do everything we can to ensure the changes made are sustainable. Where are the GP surgeries, dentists etc to cope with the increase in the number of residents in these new flats?

In Hillingdon East, the Conservatives are planning to close three children's playgrounds and squeeze in more houses on the green fields and spare land. We need more playgrounds and green spaces, not less.

If the Council is serious about defending residents and improving the borough they must be open to ideas from people other than the few who form the Conservative cabinet. A long standing conservative councillor for Northwood Hills, David Bishop, has had enough of the "Control Freakish" nature of this Conservative Council. If they don't stop acting so arrogantly then there will be more defections..

Welcome to the fight to save democracy in Hillingdon David. You may be a lone independent, but you are not alone.