Andrew talks to the Chron: town centre debate (Northampton Liberal Democrats)

Northampton Liberal Democrats <info@northamptonlibdems.org.uk>

Andrew talks to the Chron: town centre debate

April 13, 2010 12:00 AM

Talking to the Chron ahead of the paper's General Election piece on town centre regeneration, Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North, Andrew Simpson, said:

"Liberal Democrats are the only party to have taken a credible, consistent and positive approach to regenerating our town.

"We were the only party to oppose the creation of the WNDC in 2004 and have been the only party since to get Legal & General to sign a development agreement, committing them to investing in Northampton.

"Today, we are the only party prepared to protect Northampton's small businesses, in our town centre and in communities like Kingsley and St James, from even more out-of-town retail.

"Moving forward, we must ensure that our town centre has a better mix of high-street brands and independent shops to allow Northampton to thrive. The Conservatives' approach would set us back.

"Frankly, the Conservatives aren't being straight with people: they say they want to protect our green fields whilst throwing their weight behind speculative, out-of-town retail. Clearly, they will say anything to win votes.

"Similarly, on house-building, the next generation of Northamptonians need homes, but we must build them in locations that allow viable communities, supported by solid infrastructure and public services, to thrive.

"What we can't afford is crude expansions to our town like those imposed on us by successive governments since the 1970's."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

To read the Chron's article, 'Parties divided over town centre debate', click onto their website at:

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Parties-divided-over-town-centre.6221133.jp