Guildford MP calls for South East to be protected from impact of climate change

4.40.30pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 8th Feb 2005

Sue Doughty MP warned today that the lack of environmental sustainability requirements for the Government's development plans in the South East will have detrimental environmental impacts for those living in the South East, as well as increasing CO2 emissions from poor quality housing.

She also warned the Environment Minister, Elliot Morley MP, that residents in Guildford were in danger of more flash flooding due to greater in-fill of space in the town by requirements to build extra housing, as this increases surface run-off and prevents drainage.

Sue said:

"The 1.1 million new homes the Government wants our region to accommodate must be built to strict environmental guidelines to limit their environmental impact and their contribution to climate change. They call it a sustainable communities plan, but they still haven't told what they mean when they say 'sustainable'.

"Development in the South East must be within environmental limits. If not, people living here will not only suffer more flooding, more congestion and more pollution, but we will be responsible for contributing even more to climate change."