WHAT is the Conservatives attitude to the scheme?
• The Tories have repeatedly tried to delay the scheme; they have attacked the Environment Trust’s business plans; and they have tried, and in part succeeded, to scare off possible developers and charitable funders by writing to them threatening to pull the plug on the project if they get into power in 2010. They attack the lack of guaranteed funding raised by the Environment Trust; many funders will not confirm support until planning permission is gained; the important point at the pre-planning application stage is to have spoken to funders and obtained support in principle. They have proposed an uncosted and unfunded scheme of their own.
