Confessions of a Nimby: "I'm still bothered"

As I look out from my balcony over the empty space and the trees beyond, I wonder how many times this campaign will be fought up and down the country as 3 million more homes go up. That’s if the government allows such campaigns, of course – at the moment it seems hell bent on steamrolling larger schemes through, paying only lip service to public consultation.

Meanwhile I read today that the population of the UK is set to increase by 4.4 million to 65 million by 2016 (and 71 million by 2031). That’s a lot of people in a very short time. You don’t have to be a paid-up member of Migrationwatch to be worried about the impact this growth is going to have on our island. You don’t have to be a supporter of the odious British National Party to fear the consequences for race relations.

We're on to our third planning officer already - they seem to have a very short shelf life

We’ve entered a second crucial phase of our campaign to oppose plans for a school and houses in a space that is big enough only for a school. We’re on to our third planning officer already - they seem to have a very short shelf-life. The scheme is going out for a new round of consultation and the council is going to hold a public meeting. That’s good but we are disappointed the council seems to accept the applicant’s traffic assessment – with conditions. Actually the plans are lunatic and in effect create a new road to run alongside our block of flats.

If the council makes a recommendation for approval, the earliest date it can go to committee will be 11 December. I wonder by what percentage the UK population will have increased by then?