Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Working for Reigate

My constituency work over the past year has been dominated by environmental issues. I started the year by securing a debate on the scourge of mobile telecommunications masts. The pressure exerted by MPs, each with their own tales of unsightly and imposing masts has finally made the government sit upon and listen. The Government has now proposed to ensure full planning permission is required for all masts, but the balance is still weighted against the views of local residents and meanwhile the proliferation of masts goes on unabated.

In April I moved to the Environment Select Committee which has given me the opportunity to explore in detail environmental issues of concern to many constituents.

Most of all, the evidence we have been receiving on ways of achieving sustainable waste management has strengthened my opposition to mass construction of energy from waste incinerator plants, like the one which threatens Redhill. The Government has financed and subsidized incinerators as we move away from landfill. Instead of building hundreds of new large incinerators across the country, much higher recycling levels can be achieved as other countries have shown. Much household 'waste' can be seen more as a resource than waste and many recycling firms are crying out to have the chance of expanding their operations. Conservatives will support these enterprises.

However, last week whilst questioning Michaer Meacher, the Environment Minister, I obtained the following statement which should be very helpful as far as the Copyhold proposal is concerned:

Crispin Blunt MP:

"If the local authority were proposing to build an incinerator in the green belt against massive local opposition, would you regard that as a matter on which should be put to a planning inspector, particularly if the local authority itself felt distinctly uncomfortable as they were not only the planning authority but also the waste management authority?"

Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP:

"Maybe you are referring to a specific case, in which case I do not wish to imply about a particular case. I would be surprised in general - very surprised - if an incinerator in a green belt were to be given approval; but there might be particular local circumstances which would justify that. I am not making comments about a case you may have in mind."

Recently I joined with other Surrey MPs to call for a reappraisal of waste disposal strategy in Surrey. There is a way for the county to deal with its household waste by adopting a more ambitious recycling policy without the need for new incinerators in Surrey.

Flooding has been much in the news recently. Much of the trouble across the country has been from heavy and persistent rainfall causing rivers to burst their banks. Here in Reigate some sewers have been susceptible to repeated foul flooding. I have reported in previous Westminster Matters, as has the Surrey Mirror, how some householders have suffered dreadful damage to their properties and homes. I have been working with affected residents, the water company and the water regulator to cajole Thames Water into accelerating the repair programme. There is still much work to be carried out, but I am pleased that both the water company and the regulator have accepted that there is a major problem and a timetable for works is beginning to be put in place.

The heightened risk of flooding due to climatic changes is making the idea of building new housing developments in areas at risk of flooding an increasingly daft idea. The Horley Master Plan proposal to construct over two thousand new homes on precious greenfield land, which is at risk of flooding, is one such unwelcome proposal. Last week the Environment Select Committee called for such areas to be recorded on the Environment Agency's maps as vulnerable to flooding, even though they lie outside a defined river flood plain. There should also be a presumption against development in these areas.

The Horley development is driven by national housing targets imposed on the South East. The vandalism to our greenfields and the infrastructure, congestion and environmental consequences of Prescott's building programme is unacceptable and can only be reversed by the election of a Conservative government. I have seen from my work on the Environment Committee not only the environmental harm that permitting urban sprawl in the south will do to our quality of life, but the detrimental effect this will have on attempts to regenerate the inner city areas of London and northern cities.

Finally, I am pleased to report to you progress on a proposal I made last year. Many will remember the tragic suicide of a teacher following publicity of accusations of abuse before trial or conviction. These allegations which destroy reputations even before charges are brought and led me to argue for anonymity for teachers in these cases which are often the product of accusations which do not lead to charges or conviction. I presented my proposal in a Private Members Bill, but the government wasn't interested. However, the Conservative Education spokesman, Theresa May announced at the Conservative Party Conference in October that new reporting restrictions will be introduced until the police press charges to prevent the press printing names or photos of teachers while accusations are investigated. This is a welcome step forward.