UKIP calls for tight hold on purse strings as Old River Lane develops
This is an ideal brownfield site for development but it must be shared between social and housing needs for the future of our town.
UKIP policy is to stop the mass house building on Green Belt land and bring brownfield sites into play effectively. We would certainly agree that the current plans for social development such as the theatre etc, should be high on the list of recreational needs making sure that the council continue support for the fantastic Rhodes complex in the future.
Most modern towns and cities now support successful larger and smaller theatres/arts centres catering for different needs and levels of entertainment. It's vital that the Rhodes is given continued help and support in the future.
UKIP would be concerned in regard to the proposed 'affordable housing' projected for the site. Overseas investors now purchase approximately 60% of residential new-build properties in central London, and around 30% overall, thereby driving up property prices. These properties are often left vacant. UKIP will want to see a five-year residency qualification for any non-UK citizen buyer of residential property in designated areas in England. This would mean a real 'affordable' option for local families at the site. Another option we would want to see is quality social housing on the site as this need is far greater with all of the other housing, often destroying our Green Belt, going on around the town!
The 'primary shopping area' is also a worry and we would want to monitor this very carefully as we see 'primary' shops closing daily all over the country. This site must be able to generate the right mix of foot flow and access to make it viable for such shops. The last thing we need is another area of café after café on the site!
UKIP would be looking very closely at the budgets as all too often, councils get the figures very wrong and developments end up costing local residents more than they imagined.
Money is tight and with cutbacks to councils, it's vital this project is seen through quickly and efficiently to make it stay on budget (£30m agreed for the arts centre etc). Partners Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership have, we understand, offered one £6m grant and a £3.6m loan. We would want to see further partnerships developing to make sure this project is a success financially. UKIP want to see local people benefit most from this new venture. A balanced, long term view is much needed and that would be our goal.