Candidates clash over housing developments in Newport area
Employment, housing development and building on former industrial sites were high on the agenda at a Question Time-style event in Shropshire.
With just two days before the election, voters from Newport and the surrounding area fired questions at candidates standing in three elections in the town when the polls open tomorrow.
Residents will vote to choose an MP for The Wrekin constituency and councillors to both Telford & Wrekin Council and Newport Town Council.
Elections will also be held for Church Aston Parish Council and Edgmond Parish Council. On the panel at St Andrew's church hall, in Church Aston, were parliamentary candidate Cath Edwards, for the Green Party. Joining them were council candidates Eric Carter, for the Conservatives, Sally Wiggin, for the Liberal Democrats, Warwick McKenzie, for Ukip, and and Dylan Harrison, for Labour.
With 1,300 homes due to be built in and around Newport within the next few years, issues around housing and open space dominated the agenda.
Mr McKenzie said developers should be told: "If you build 'x' amount of housing, we want 'x' amount of open space within it."
The Conservative and Labour candidates clashed on who was responsible for the large amount of development – which has been described by opposition Tory councillors as "out of control".
But Mr Harrison said: "Regarding the development, the blame lies elsewhere – not on the council. The ConDem coalition Government have freed up the planning laws need to be held to account and create green spaces."
The two also clashed over house building in the area.
