IT was only a matter of time before St Helens Council blamed the government for their attempt to grab our green belt land and I notice that they have finally done it.


The council first tried to justify building on the green belt in their “Local Plan” by claiming exponential population growth figures, following 30 years of declining population numbers. 


Then Councillor John Fulham was caught on TV and radio interviews admitting (as we’ve known all along) that it was due to the need to generate more council tax revenues.


Now (in the Star’s article about 2000 homes with planning permission not being built) they claim it is down to government set targets.


I would like to point out that the government do not set targets for local councils.


They merely require a plan is produced based on local housing needs. The council also tried to justify building on green belt land due to there being insufficient brownfield sites and yet they go on to admit (in the same article) that they don’t have a brownfield register!


And guess who gets the blame for that...yes, it’s all down to the government because they have not told them what to put in it. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so serious.


Name and address submitted