News on 02 January 2001
Unrestrained growth in southern England is causing a range
of economic and social problems, including transport congestion, public
sector recruitment difficulties and excessive housebuilding.
According to a report in The Guardian just after Christmas, Labour MPs
in southern England have begun to lobby government ministers to halt the
creation of new jobs in their constituencies.
The problem is particularly acute in the Thames Valley corridor where
demand is pushing house prices beyond the means of public sector workers
such as teachers and nurses. House prices have more than doubled in less
than four years in parts of the Thames Valley, says the Guardian article,
with two-bedroom terraced properties selling for £120,000.
Local MPs have commented on three high-profile organisations with expansion
plans in the area. Jane Griffiths, Labour MP for Reading East, opposes
the move of the Meteorological Office to her constituency from Bracknell
(see News story). She told MPs: "We
do not need those jobs. New jobs that come into the local area do not
necessarily bring benefits with them."
The MP for Reading West, Martin Salter, told The Guardian: "I am
deeply worried that when Cisco Systems moves to the area with 5,500 jobs
where the company will find the labour and what it will do to regional
house prices. Companies are buying up whole streets of terraced properties
for executive homes.”
David Rendel, the Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury, said that by the time
the new Vodafone headquarters in his constituency is completed there would
be 14,000 more jobs in West Berkshire than people to do the jobs.
