Anger as borough council votes for growth - but reduced numbers
Guildhall bosses accused of "surrendering to the Government" over expansion plans for Northampton have vowed to fight to reduce the number of new homes destined to be built in the town.
At the end of June, the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (JPU), a group made up of councillors from across Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire, published details of where more than 40,000 new homes could be built around Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.
Last night, members of Northampton Borough Council voted on their official response to the plan, agreeing to call for a reduction in the number of new houses, but accepting a plan for the town's expansion was needed.
Their stance was opposed by both anti-expansion campaigners and several rebel councillors.
Whitehills resident, Ian Suter, who is the leader of a campaign against a major housing development in the north-west of Northampton, argued councillors should stick to their pre-election promises and oppose expansion.
He said: "You were going to stand up against central Government, but we now find you've switched sides.
"You've joined the JPU and you're supporting policies you were supposed to oppose. Shame on you.
"Remember your campaign pledges, reject this plan because it's not what the people of Northampton need and it's not what they want."
He was backed by independent councillor Tony Clarke (Ind, Castle), who added: "The council's response to these plans is at best a fudge and at worst a surrender."
Other councillors also expressed grave concerns about the plans, which indicate possible sites for thousands of new houses around Moulton and Overstone, Grange Park and Little Houghton, to the west of Duston and close to Collingtree.
But while the three party leaders on the council all agreed the number of houses demanded by the Government needed to be reduced, they also insisted a plan was needed to make sure the expansion is controlled.
The leader of the authority, Councillor Tony Woods (Lib Dem, St Davids) said: "In Northampton we need some 8,000 new homes just to cater for existing demand, not in 20 years time.
"We should plan and create an attractive and successful town that will attract more people to come and set up home here; but just plonking additional homes in and around Northampton will not create a better place. We need to know what we want and we need a robust plan to help us deliver it."
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