Article for Berkhamsted and Tring Gazette

It is a great pleasure to begin a series of monthly columns for the Berkhamsted & Tring Gazette. My plan is to set out on a regular basis a few thoughts on local and national issues, and perhaps give an insight into life as an MP and minister. It will not, I promise, turn into a party political polemic!

For the first column, I am spoilt for choice as to which issues to cover. At a Parliamentary level, there has been the debate on a European referendum. I am a long time Eurosceptic but the motion we debated last week was flawed. If you have a referendum, you have got to know what you are voting on and, just as importantly, who would be the winner. A three way referendum on in/out/renegotiation would be vague and could result in no own result achieving a majority of votes.

At a more local level, I get plenty of letters on HS2. I know that not everyone agrees with my views on this, but I don’t think we can dismiss the idea out of hand. A thriving economy needs excellent transport links and in much of the world, high speed rail is widespread.

Looking at this issue from a local perspective, the West Coast Mainline is increasingly popular. Passenger numbers are growing and I worry that in ten or twenty years, commuter trains will be filling up before they get to the likes of Tring or Berkhamsted. Local commuters won’t just be struggling to get a seat but trains will start to be withdrawn as well. So, in the longer term, we need more capacity. HS2 is one solution to this problem.

Of course, there is the vital question of the environment. The Chilterns is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. The Government has already changed 50% of the original route and ensured that ten per cent of the route will be in tunnels. Two million trees will also be planted between London and Birmingham to try to mitigate the noise and visual impacts. There are legitimate questions to be asked about value for money and ensuring that there is a sensible route (I campaigned against the route that went parallel to the West Coast Mainline which, rightly, is now out of contention). But I don’t think we can be in a position to rule out all major infrastructure projects.

If I had to highlight one issue dominating my postbag and inbox at the moment, it is the proposed development south of Berkhamsted. I share the concerns of local residents and councillors about the proposal.

I don’t take the view that no new houses should be built in Dacorum. It is increasingly difficult for young people to get on the housing market. I also think that the Government is right that the planning system should be simplified. Where we want to get to is a position whereby local councils develop sensible proposals for their area, recognising the need for some new housing but also appreciating local conditions.

Berkhamsted is a town that has expanded rapidly in recent years but the strains will show if we go too far. Another 800 homes for a town that currently has a shortage of school and nursery places (an issue to which I will return in future) and is built in a valley is not the right way forward.

Many thanks for reading.