Labour's airfield site petition threatens new homes

1.37.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Mar 2010

Sian Reid

Cambridge Liberal Democrats have attacked a Labour petition which threatens new homes for at least 4,000 city families.

The petition, led by Tariq Sadiq, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for South Cambridge calls on all councils to give their support to Marshalls Aerospace staying at Cambridge Airport

If this were to happen it would destroy the opportunity to develop the airport site for new homes and facilities on the eastern side of the city.

The petition with 1,500 signatures is being handed in to the full Cambridgeshire County Council meeting today(Tuesday).

Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge said: "This is an absolutely ridiculous move. Cambridge needs new homes for families and the Marshalls Aerospace site offers the ideal opportunity to provide those homes with supporting facilities.

'Marshalls are quite capable of speaking for themselves - and they are fully engaged in the search for an alternative site. It is disgraceful that Labour wants to use them as a political football.

"Clearly, Mr Sadiq has no grasp of the city's problems with regard to providing good, affordable housing. This petition is ill-thought out and has the potential to be extremely damaging."

Sian Reid, Cambridge City Executive Councillor for Change and Growth said: "This petition is irresponsible and flies in the face of all the work that has been done to try to address the chronic shortage of affordable homes in the city.

"Ludicrously, the petition contradicts the Labour government's firm endorsement of the plan to build homes on the airport and undermines the work they are doing to make this plan happen. Don't Labour candidates talk to their own government?"

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Nichola Harrison said: ""Long term redevelopment of the airfield remains the right answer for Cambridge.

"Without it, existing neighbourhoods will come under intense pressure for high density development, countryside will be lost to development and traffic congestion will worsen as people are forced to commute long distances.

"The Labour party seems to have no understanding of Cambridge's real needs."