Row over missing homes cash - Tories attack Prescott freeze
Vital projects to build affordable homes in Welwyn Hatfield are being held up because government money is not forthcoming.
The former BAe site and Coronation Gardens in Hatfield are affected, along with Chequersfield and old Catmonance land at Bridge Road East, WGC.
Prominent Conservatives in the district say that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is demanding thousands of new homes in the south-east, but the Government is failing to provide the money needed.
Parliamentary candidate Grant Shapps said he made the discovery when following up a WHT story on the state of Coronation Gardens off Wellfield Road in Hatfield.
He said he learned that work stalled because developers were waiting for a grant before proceeding, so the project has been left unfinished.
"There's pressure from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to provide affordable housing, but they are simultaneously withholding the funds to complete building projects which are already underway," he said.
"This is clearly a completely mad situation and I'm calling on the government to get a grip of the problem."
A Welwyn Hatfield Council spokesman said the social housing grant that councils used to enjoy was being phased out in favour of a system where districts bid for funds available for the eastern region.
But council leader Russell Le Page said the amount up for grabs was "derisory" and the money heading Welwyn Hatfield's way would not be enough.
"The council has already used its own capital reserves to plug the gap but we can't go on doing that.
"The government is determined to load ever more responsibilities on local government without giving us the funds to deliver."
Welwyn Hatfield's Labour MP Melanie Johnson defended the Government.
"I am sure that the situation is not as black as Mr Shapps would like to paint it," she said and pointed out that millions of pounds had been allocated to projects in the district.
"Not all the schemes that were originally proposed have received funding and this is something I am following up with the relevant authorities," she said.
Welwyn & Hatfield Times, 30th June 2004
