Chris and Charles Discuss Ashford's Development

8.43.42pm GMT Sun 21st Nov 2004

Chris Took meets with Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Thursday November 18th saw Ashford's local Lib Dem campaigner Chris Took debating the growing concerns surrounding Ashford's development.

At a specially arranged meeting at Charles Kennedy's office in Westminster the Liberal Democrat leader thanked Chris for helping him to gauge what was happening "at the grassroots."

"I was able to bring to Charles Kennedy's attention the growing problems arising from Labour's non-joined up thinking." One very specific issue was the school, or rather the lack of a school, within the Goat Lees development. "More houses inevitably places a greater demand on local services, the focus must be on the provision of schools and hospitals FIRST. By neglecting this point we are building commuter belts rather than a sense of community in our new developments" added Chris.

Nationally the Liberal Democrats have condemned John Prescott's focus on concreting over an already overcrowded South East.