Letter from Dick Tregea, Strategic Director,
Environment Directorate, Halton Borough Council
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS COMMITTEE REPORT ON
NEW TOWNS: THEIR PROBLEMS AND FUTURE
Thank you for sending me a copy of the Government's
response to the Committee's follow up report. I apologise for
my delay in responding but I wanted to consult with colleagues
who were formerly involved with the now disbanded New Towns Special
Interest Group and was a little slow in commencing that consultation.
I am afraid that, much as expected, the response
has been extremely limited and at the time of writing only Warrington
Borough Council has replied. I attach for your information a copy
of an email from Warrington's Chief Executive which indicates
a wish "to move on from the new Town era, and look forward
to delivering our visions and plans for the future rather than
considering life as a former New Town".
This view put forward by Warrington is consistent
with those previously expressed by members of the former LGA New
Towns SIG where the hope was that their towns and communities
would be "normalised". The issue of ageing infrastructure
recognised by the Committee in its recommendation that the Government
should Commission "a detailed examination of the re-investment
needs of the New Towns" is acknowledged in the Government's
response. This clear recognition of one of the main problems experienced
in the New Towns is welcomed and it is noted that the Programme
of Development and the Community Infrastructure Fund associated
with the Government's Growth Areas and Growth Points can contribute
to a resolution of the problem. The Government has commented that
the Homes and Communities Agency will be working with local authorities
in the New Towns and across the country to support them in the
delivery of their growth ambitions. It will be important that
all parties engaged in the growth point agenda recognises that
Government sees this as a means of helping to resolve these historic
issues in a more integrated way and that Government also recognises
the scale of investment necessary to deal with these outstanding
problems. Whilst the great majority would agree with Warrington's
comments about needing to look forward rather than considering
life as a former New Town, it is pleasing that the Government
has responded positively to the Committee's second recommendation
regarding the need to learn lessons for the future. Linking this
need to Eco-towns, Growth Areas and Growth Points is particularly
helpful. It is also very pleasing to note the Government's comments
about Local Neighbourhood Centres and about the importance of
social infrastructure. In this context it is clear that there
is an opportunity to make linkages with the important Neighbourhood
Management approach being followed in some of the more deprived
areas in the country. Again, it is noted that the HCA will provide
critical assistance in this respect.
Whilst I cannot speak for other New Towns, I
believe that there will be a broad welcome for the Government's
view that the New Towns should be "mainstreamed" to
ensure parity of treatment with other local authorities in national
programmes on housing, regeneration and social inclusion. In summary,
it would seem that, in general, the Government's response is broadly
consistent with the thinking of the former LGA New Towns SIG and
is, therefore, to be broadly welcomed.
23 March 2009
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