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Residents for Uttlesford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Residents for Uttlesford
ChairmanDan Starr
Founded2014
HeadquartersResidents for Uttlesford
3 London Rd, Saffron Walden, CB11 4ED, United Kingdom
IdeologyLocalism
Colours  Turquoise
Uttlesford District Council
19 / 39
Saffron Walden Town Council
18 / 18
Great Dunmow Town Council
5 / 18
Essex County Council (Uttlesford seats)
1 / 4
Website
Residents4U.org

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is a localist political party in the United Kingdom. The party was launched in 2014, and formed from a number of residents groups in the area.[1][2] The party is based in the Uttlesford administrative district in Essex and promotes a localist agenda that seeks to give residents a greater say in the future of their district.[3] Residents for Uttlesford has elected representation at multiple levels of local government: running Uttlesford District Council since 2019,[4] Essex County Council and various town and parish councils, including the councils for both towns in Uttlesford, Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow.

Under R4U, the district lost its powers on major decisions and had its decision to block the expansion of Stansted Airport overturned by the High Court.

Background

[edit]

The group began as a residents' association in 2011, concerned about planning issues.[5] For the 2013 UK local elections, Uttlesford residents stood two of their own candidates on an Independent platform. Both were elected - John Lodge to Essex County Council and Joanna Parry to Uttlesford District Council.[6]

Following this, in 2014 the local residents groups formed their own party, Residents for Uttlesford, so that they could more easily stand a larger number of candidates across the electoral District.[7][5] A number of existing councillors defected to join the new party when it was launched, including from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.[8] They have no whip and instead use consensus.[5]

Residents for Uttlesford cite other successful local independent political parties in the UK as the inspiration for their model, including the Loughton Residents Association in Essex, Residents Associations of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, and Independents for Frome with their Flatpack Democracy model.[9]

History

[edit]

Residents for Uttlesford fought their first local elections in May 2015, with candidates standing for seats in both Uttlesford District Council and Saffron Walden Town Council. They won a majority of the seats on the town council and became the opposition in the district council.[10] At the 2015 General Election, the R4U candidate in Saffron Walden came last, prompting them to focus on local elections.[11]

The party gained two additional seats in February 2017 by winning an Uttlesford District Council by-election in the Elsenham and Henham ward with 60% of the votes cast.[12]

In the 2019 Uttlesford District Council election, the party gained control of Uttlesford District Council after winning 26 out of 39 of the available seats, taking 17 seats from the incumbent Conservatives, who came third.[13] This was a "dramatic" example of a national trend of losses of Conservatives to Liberal Democrats and independents over protection of greenbelts.[14] R4U offered the Liberal Democrats cabinet seats, which they declined.[15] They also maintained control of the Saffron Walden Town Council, winning 15 out of the 16 seats.[16] A key policy was opposing the Conservative's Local Plan, especially three new settlements and the insufficient infrastructure for developments.[17] Despite this policy, after being elected they proceeded with the local plan, including plans for the "garden communities" of Easton Park, North Uttlesford, and West of Braintree, in June 2019. In January 2020, planning inspectors asked for the local plan to be withdrawn by R4U.[18]

In the 2021 Essex County Council election, Residents for Uttlesford gained two of the four Essex County Council seats in Uttlesford from the Conservatives.[19] In December, R4U council leader John Lodge stepped down and Petrina Lees became Uttlesford's first female leader;[20] she has said she wants R4U to be a "flagship for district councils", calling national party councillors "little Lego people of Westminster".[11]

In February 2022, Conservative housing minister Christopher Pincher took away the power of the R4U council to make major planning decisions, granting it to the planning Inspectorate under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which R4U said was "unwarranted and cynical". This was due to the high number of decisions overturned at appeal.[21] Architects Journal reported that "of 79 major planning applications, 35 were appealed and 13 of the 35 appeals were subsequently allowed."[22] The same month, R4U supported a Liberal Democrat and Green Groups proposal for a council tax rebate for the poorest taxpayers.[23] That June, R4U again delayed the local plan consultation until that November.[24]

R4U presented a vision for the district titled Blueprint Uttlesford in 2023, with opposition councillors walking out of a meeting in March 2023 claiming the plans were undemocratic.[25] R4U retained control of Uttlesford District Council in the May 2023 local elections, down two seats.[26][27] The party were also returned to lead Saffron Walden Town council for the third term, taking a clean sweep of all 18 of the seats, as well as taking 5 seats at Great Dunmow Town Council.[28] A public consultation on a new local plan to deliver 6,000 ho}es by 2041 was announced in October 2023.[29] R4U councillors did not defend the lack of social housing, noting how an imperfect plan had to proceed due to the existing plan dating to 2005.[30] That December, Conservative minister Michael Gove named R4U as an underperforming administration on planning; R4U leader Petrina Lees said he knew the council would meet the local plan deadline.[31] The last stage of consultation in August 2024 was opposed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.[32] R4U agreed in March 2024 to sell the council's 50% share of Chesterford Research Park, acquired in 2017.[33] In 2025, R4U expressed concern about the financial impact and disruption of the Local Government Reorganisation planned for 2027, which will abolish the County Council and Uttlesford District.[34]

In March 2025 and then in February 2026, first councillor Heather Asker and then councillors Geoff Bagnall and Mark Coletta defected to Reform, reducing R4U to 19 councillors and moving the authority into no overall control.[35][36] R4U commented that, "The new Local Plan includes development proposals close to the homes of the two councillors who have since defected to Reform."[37] A founding member of R4U, councillor Alexander Armstrong, died in May 2026.[38]

Stansted airport expansion

[edit]

Residents for Uttlesford decided in January 2020 to revoke planning permission for the expansion of London Stansted Airport, granted in November 2018 by the previous Conservative administration, on the grounds of climate change and noise and air pollution.[39] The council was lobbied by Stop Stansted Expansion, who wanted the decision rapidly reversed,[40] and the union Unite, who argued a refusal would cost the local economy an estimated £1 billion GBP in investment.[41][42] Council officers had recommended approval ahead of the planning committee meeting.[43] A public inquiry was held from January to April 2021, examining the decision by R4U in 2020 to go against the advice of council officers and their lawyers.[44] The R4U-led council's decision was overturned in 2021 by the planning inspectorate. In October 2021, the High Court judge Beverley Lang rejected an appeal by the R4U-majority council and ordered the council to pay costs and compensation to Manchester Airports Group and to the Department for Communities and Local Government with the council’s bill expected to exceed £2 million.[45] The council's own legal bill was above £1 million.[46] A July 2022 report by Eversheds Sutherland said the reversal of approval was "politically motivated" and the council CEO said most meetings about the airport were not properly documented.[47] In October 2022, the R4U-led council used its entire Strategic Initiative Fund and over £400,000 in reserves to pay £2.05 million to the airport.[48]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Tonkin, Sam (22 October 2014). "New political party formed as residents seek to take control of Uttlesford District Council". Dunmow Broadcast. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "History of Residents for Uttlesford". Residents for Uttlesford. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Policies for a Residents' Uttlesford – Built by you for you". Residents for Uttlesford. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Uttlesford District Council - Councillors". www.uttlesford.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Maciuca, Andra (22 April 2021). "What is a residents party?". The London Economic.
  6. ↑ "Independent for Residents' candidates Lodge and Parry win". Saffron Walden Reporter. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Press Release: Call for candidates to step forward to clean up Uttlesford in 2015 elections". Residents for Uttlesford. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. ↑ Busby, Eleanor (23 October 2014). "Two more Tories quit to join Residents". Cambridge News. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Residents for Uttlesford: Our History". Residents for Uttlesford. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2015 - Uttlesford". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  11. 1 2 Ridler, Charlie (3 May 2023). "Inside the rise of Essex independent councillors battling the 'little Lego people of Westminster'". Essex Live.
  12. ↑ "Results of Uttlesford District Council election for the Elsenham and Henham ward, February 2017". uttlesford.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Conservatives lose council to local residents' association". BBC News. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Marshall, Tim (2020). "Fields of planning action: housing, economy and infrastructure". The Politics and Ideology of Planning. Bristol University Press. p. 195-224. doi:10.46692/9781447337225.010.
  15. ↑ Smulian, Mark; Calkin, Sarah; Bunn, Jon (2 July 2019). "The rise of the independents: from Ashfield to Uttlesford". LGC.
  16. ↑ "Results of town and parish elections 2 May 2019 (Uttlesford District Council)". uttlesford.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019.
  17. ↑ Smulian, Mark (19 June 2019). "Inspectors puzzled by new council's stance on plan". LGC.
  18. ↑ Marrs, Colin (15 January 2020). "Inspectors recommend withdrawal of Uttlesford plan over 'vague' garden communities proposals". Planning Resource.
  19. ↑ "Essex County Council elections: Residents for Uttlesford win Saffron Walden and Thaxted from Conservatives but Tories retain control". Bishop's Stortford Independent. 7 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Ridler, Charlie (8 December 2021). "Uttlesford's first female leader in 47-year history elected and immediately announces cabinet reshuffle". Essex Live.
  21. ↑ Smulian, Mark (9 February 2022). "Government removes power from district council to make decisions on major planning applications". Local Government Lawyer.
  22. ↑ Jessel, Ella (16 February 2022). "Council that refused Stansted expansion stripped of planning powers". Architects Journal.
  23. ↑ "Uttlesford: Council tax rebate to help rise of living costs". BBC News. 23 February 2022.
  24. ↑ Gardiner, Joey (23 June 2022). "Home counties authority delays local plan". Housing Today.
  25. ↑ Ryder, Hollie (29 March 2023). "Uttlesford District Council: Three councillors storm out of meeting over 'undemocratic' Blueprint Uttlesford vision". Bishop's Stortford Independent.
  26. ↑ "BBC News: England local elections 2023 - Uttlesford election result". BBC. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  27. ↑ Ridler, Charlie (5 May 2023). "Full make up of Uttlesford District Council after local election 2023 sees Conservatives make gains". Essex Live.
  28. ↑ "Election of town and parish councillors on Thursday 4 May 2023". Uttlesford District Council. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  29. ↑ Suslak, Anne (31 October 2023). "Uttlesford votes for public consultation on draft Local Plan". Saffron Walden Reporter.
  30. ↑ Doyle, Emma (22 October 2023). "Lack of social housing in Uttlesford council's draft local plan called a 'tragedy'". Essex Live.
  31. ↑ Dedman, Simon (20 December 2023). "Three councils surprised at Gove naming and shaming". BBC News.
  32. ↑ Suslak, Anne (6 August 2024). "R4U shocked at unsuccessful votes to delay Local Plan". Saffron Walden Reporter.
  33. ↑ Doyle, Emma (4 March 2024). "Uttlesford District Council to sell 'jewel in the crown' share in Chesterford Research Park". Essex Live.
  34. ↑ Critchell, Matthew (17 January 2025). "Residents for Uttlesford fear 'expensive council upheaval'". Saffron Walden Reporter.
  35. ↑ Critchell, Matthew (26 February 2026). "Council in no overall control after two defections". BBC News.
  36. ↑ Critchell, Matthew (21 March 2025). "Essex district independent councillor defects to join Reform". Essex Live.
  37. ↑ Suslak, Anne. "Residents for Uttlesford respond to Reform UK defection". Saffron Walden Reporter.
  38. ↑ Critchell, Matthew (1 June 2026). "Heartfelt tributes paid to late Uttlesford councillor". Saffron Walden Reporter.
  39. ↑ Ryder, Alistair (28 January 2020). "Major Stansted Airport expansion rejected in controversial move". Cambridge News.
  40. ↑ Corr, Sinead (15 June 2019). "Stop Stansted Expansion accuses Uttlesford District Council of 'veil of secrecy' over airport". Bishop's Stortford Independent.
  41. ↑ "Unite supports appeal over refusal to give permission for Stansted Airport's expansion". www.unitetheunion.org. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  42. ↑ Chambers, Sarah (27 January 2020). "Union brands shock airport expansion decision 'flawed' and 'short-sighted'". East Anglian Daily Times.
  43. ↑ Meyler, Piers (10 January 2020). "Airport expansion plans set to get green light after delays". East Anglian Daily Times.
  44. ↑ "Online public inquiry into expansion at Stansted Airport gets underway". ITV News. 12 January 2021.
  45. ↑ "Boost for Stansted Airport expansion as judge throws out challenge". New Civil Engineer. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  46. ↑ Corr, Sinead (20 June 2022). "Opposition parties blame Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) for '£2.5m airport planning bill'". Bishop's Stortford Independent.
  47. ↑ Ridler, Charlie (15 July 2022). "Council's Stansted Airport expansion refusal was 'politically motivated' and 'without evidence', report says". Essex Live.
  48. ↑ "Stansted Airport accepts £2m legal costs from Uttlesford council". BBC News. 20 October 2022.
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