A LEADING Tory has hit out at Ken Livingstone for ignoring transport and housing issues in Bromley.

Bob Neill, Greater London Assembly Member for Bromley and Bexley, accused the London Mayor of being too "prescriptive" in setting the same targets for outer London as for inner London.

He was particularly scathing of Mr Livingstone's targets for affordable housing and his preoccupation with the tube.

"Ken is often described as a zone one mayor, yet 56 per cent of Londoners live in the suburbs," said Mr Neill.

"The mayor is increasing density in London.

"This is a problem for Bromley as there is a significant amount of green belt and means building more in residential areas.

"But people move into Bromley because there is lots of space."

"Fifty per cent of new houses would have to be affordable but the danger of that is estate-type developments," he said.

"He is also desperate to improve the tube but what people in Bromley want is the ability to park near the rail station and have better train services."

Barbara Thompson, Head of Community Renewal at Bromley Council, joined other boroughs to tell the mayor there was often only a token mention of the plight of the suburbs.

They said while there was a perception of the suburbs being leafy and comfortable places to live, this stereotype could not be applied to many pockets within the boroughs, such as Mottingham and the Crays in Bromley.

Miss Thompson said: "We have areas of the borough which are some of the most deprived in the country."

Responding to these concerns, Mr Livingston has commissioned new research to address problems facing Bromley and other London suburbs.

The research will be incorporated into the London Plan, Lr Livingstone's vision for London over the next 15 years, which will be published early next year.

November 12, 2001 11:27

Adrian Kwintner