Councillor Taylor Raises Important Points, But It Overlooks Critical Facts And Ongoing Efforts By Havering Council.

Rebuttal to ‘How to Take Back Control over development in Romford’–By Councillor Graham Williamson Cabinet Member For Regeneration.

While the recent article by Cllr Taylor raises important points about development, it overlooks some critical facts and ongoing efforts by Havering Council.

The fact is, the previous Administration significantly delayed the Romford Masterplan. Councillor Taylor cannot claim credit for a plan that was stalled under their watch. The delays undoubtedly hindered progress and contributed to some of the current challenges in managing development effectively. And it seems the Conservatives do not agree with Cllr Taylor and have therefore not selected him to stand in the Romford ‘Constituency’ next May.

Contrary to the suggestion from Councillor Taylor about needing a new social value shopping list, Havering Council is already actively working on a comprehensive Social Value Strategy which aims to ensure that developments and businesses that want to work in Havering or with the Council are asked to contribute positively to the community, beyond just providing housing.

The Council is focused on creating apprenticeships, local jobs and community spaces, which align with the needs and priorities of residents and extend further than any Community Infrastructure Levy or Section 106 requirement that applies only to developers.

Councillor Taylor criticises the Council for accepting £77k for affordable housing offsite and acknowledges that these contributions are set by Central Government. Whilst it might seem like a small amount for one individual scheme, the Council works hard to ensure that developments benefit the entire community, not just meeting minimum requirements and lobbying the Government to devolve more power locally.

His suggestion that Havering lacks a vision for housing and infrastructure is misleading and only reflects half of the story and half the facts as per usual. The Council has been working on strategic plans to balance development with necessary infrastructure improvements. This includes advocating for better healthcare facilities, transportation links, and educational resources to support the growing population.

The Bridge Close development is a perfect example of that. Proposals include a three-form entry Primary School, health centre and community facilities, as well as providing easier access to the town centre via a purpose-built pedestrian walkway.

This broader approach demonstrates a commitment to enhancing the social fabric of the whole of the borough.

While the article calls for practical solutions, it doesn’t reflect what Councillor Taylor knows to already be underway.

It is essential to recognise that despite the challenges faced by Havering Council, we continue to strive to find realistic and workable solutions. David Taylor chooses to ignore this and instead opts for using his platform for cheap political gain that only serves to create disillusion and division among our residents. This only makes it harder to have a more balanced and informed discussion about the future of development in Romford and the borough as a whole.

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