Shailesh Vara addresses issue of a 7,000-home proposal near Castor and Ailsworth at Prime Minister's Questions
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00:00 >>Shaleesh Marra (Ayr, Ayrshire) (Con): A few years ago, there was a proposal to build
00:06 nearly 7,000 houses in a beautiful part of my constituency near the villages of Castor
00:12 and Aylesworth, against the wishes of the local residents. I worked with the local community,
00:19 and together we were able to stop this development. However, efforts are now being made to include
00:25 this land in a revised Peterborough local plan. Does the Prime Minister agree that it
00:32 is very important that the voice of the local community is heard and that it is unacceptable
00:39 that developments can take place in this circuitous way, especially when there is other, more
00:45 suitable land available in and around the city of Peterborough?
00:48 >>The Prime Minister My hon. Friend raises an important issue.
00:53 He is right that the local community should always have their voice heard. It is important
00:58 that councils bring forward local plans, but this must be done in close consultation with
01:03 local communities, because their voices matter. As I understand it, the Peterborough local
01:07 plan is still under preparation, and there are opportunities to provide comments on the
01:12 draft plan. I encourage and commend my hon. Friend for continuing to support his local
01:18 community to make sure that their voice is heard.