February 24th, 2021.


Cllr Emily O’Brien, Cabinet member for Planning on Lewes District Council says: “It is just so disappointing to hear that Maria Caulfield is once again trying to play a blame game over the government’s housing numbers when what we all need to be doing is working together.

“Needless to say that what she is claiming is not true and we are carrying out the local plan process within the government’s own rules.

“I have personally been offering Maria Caulfield briefings for weeks and she has failed to take up the offer. Council officers meet with government officials regularly and we will continue working closely with them to comply with their rules.

“I really hope that we can move on quickly from this unfortunate episode, and work together to properly challenge the government’s unrealistic housing target for our District.”

Cllr James MacCleary, 9pictured), Leader of the council, adds: “There is a process that the council is required to follow that is laid out by the government. Our planning team has followed their methodology and that has generated the 782 per year housing target. Council officers have met with government officials and they have confirmed we have applied their methodology correctly.

“Maria Caulfield seems to have turned wasting officer time with misleading claims into her personal hobby. If she wishes to play politics with this issue then we cannot stop her, but this is not a game and will have real life consequences for local residents. People don’t want to see politicians squabbling, they want to see them getting on with the job and that is exactly what we are doing.

“I hope that Maria Caulfield will accept the invitation to come to the table, rather than undermining the process from the sidelines.”