Masterplan Goes Ahead - But There is No Money

1.45.32pm GMT Sat 27th Feb 2010

Ely's controversial Masterplan - the city's blueprint for the future - has been given the go-ahead without the money to carry it through.

Tories on East Cambridgeshire District Council have ignored warnings from county council officials that it is unlikely that the development will bring in enough funding to pay for necessary transport improvements. They also warned that regional funding is "oversubscribed".

The Tories are banking on "roof tax", to be paid by developers on each new house built, to pay for facilities. But the Lib Dems claim this levy is to provide infrastructure for new homes not solve existing transport problems.

Despite these concerns the Tories plan to push ahead with the Masterplan which could bring around 5,000 new homes to the city.

Ian Allen, Lib Dem Environment and Transport Spokesman said: "The Tories are living in cloud cuckoo land. They have completely ignored all the sensible advice they have been given and are pushing ahead with this pipe dream.

"Residents don't want more growth in the city and they don't want their roads clogged with more traffic. They want to maintain their quality of life; but the Tories are not listening."

The Masterplan includes a new leisure centre to replace the Paradise sports centre and swimming pool.

But the Tories plan to push it out of town which defies their own party policies and government guidance.

They have even over-ruled guidance set out in the Local Development Framework by increasing the projected growth for Ely by 3,000 more homes.

The Tories want to see multi-storey car parks built rather than expanding Park and Ride to keep cars out of the city centre.

And they are pinning their hopes on a new Southern Bypass which the government has already advised them to abandon.

"Current economic conditions have given us a chance to rethink our priorities," added Councillor Allen.

"The county council has given us sound advice which the Tories have chosen to ignore. It has fundamental concerns about the location of the new leisure centre believing it would increase congestion on the A10.

"Despite all these concerns the Tories are pressing ahead with a Masterplan which has already had huge cost implications to the taxpayers."