Council leader slams planning inspectors decision on Markfield Houses

Liberal Democrat leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Cllr Stuart Bray has written to Secretary of State Eric Pickles to slam the decision to build 147 houses off London Road, Markfield.

Cllr Bray is urging Mr Pickles to overturn the inspectors decision.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council threw out the application but the developer appealed.

Cllr Bray said "This decision flies in the face of the government's desire for local people to have more say over planning decisions in their community.

"I am urging the Secretary of State to urgently intervene to overturn his planning inspector's decision.

"The Borough Council, following government guidance has gone through a thorough process to develop a Core Strategy in which many thousands of local people have had an input in. A government inspector has already ruled that this document is sound and should be used to determine planning in the Borough over the next 10 years. And now a different government inspector has ignored the plan. In my view Mr Pickles must now overturn the latest decision or the council and local residents will have no faith in the planning system."