Remember when the Lib Dems wheeled out their leader to highlight the inaction on the Tipner development by the Tories?

Well at last Tuesdays full council meeting Cllr Tom Coles repeatedly asked for updates on the progress of development and called for 100% of the development to be social housing.

With a multi-million pound plan to build a new garden-style village, with thousands of new homes and plans to reclaim the land around the MOD firing range which was first revealed in 2013, Cllr Tom Coles wanted to hear why nothing has been done.

Rumal Khan our Copnor candidate and long time campaigner for the development of the site said;

“Having been a long time campaigner for the development of this site and seeing the Lib Dem’s launch their campaign here, its disappointed that no action has been taken to even get going. We need to be ambitious for our city and the people who live here. That’s why only a labour led council will ensure we invest in our city, look at Spinnaker tower, Gunwharf and Port Solent all of these brought to the city by a labour ran council. We’ve done it before we’ll do it again.”

In an exchange of questions at Novembers full council, Fratton ward Councillor Tom Coles asked;

“Can the Cabinet Member for planning, regeneration, environment and development provide an update on the progress of the development at Tipner site?”

Lib Dem cabinet member Cllr Ben Dowling said; “There are ongoing issues with land ownership but things are moving along”

With it in mind that no plans have been put in place Cllr Coles asked the Cabinet Member to commit to making the development 100% social housing.

The cabinet member replied with “I have a preference to work toward this and would like to work toward ensuring a high level of social housing at Tipner and across the city but did not want to commit to this today”

Sue Castillion our Hilsea candidate supports Cllr Coles call for 100% of the housing to be social adding;

“With the huge amount of investment to the new sea defences work along this part of the city up to Hilsea Lido, it’s shameful that the Lib Dems and Tories before them haven’t had the ambition to get things rolling on the site. I’m grateful for Tom raising this important issue at full council and I will be backing his call to make sure all housing built in the site is 100% social” 

With no concrete update on what was going on with the development and no commitment that all housing built on the site would be social Cllr Coles pressed the cabinet member further by asking;

“Has an assessment been made into improving transport links within this part of the city as part of the proposed development?”

Unfortunately the Lib Dem cabinet member didn’t know but was assured it had been and that Cllr Coles would need to speak to the cabinet member for traffic and transportation. We will continue to hold the administration to account for the things that they have promised to do.