09 June 2008 - A warning from the South East England Regional Assembly about the high environmental price of unfettered economic development in the region is long overdue and finally recognises the message which green campaigners have put forward for years, according to Dr Caroline Lucas MEP.

Responding to the Assembly’s sixth annual Regional Monitoring Report (1), Dr Lucas welcomed the fact that the environmental consequences of growth had been officially recognised, but urged local authorities to act quickly to ensure that sustainability criteria are taken into account in future development.

She said:

“This report shows SEERA playing catch-up with campaigners who have warned for many years that conventional economic growth in the South East would have a detrimental effect on the environment and residents’ quality of life.

“Increasingly poor air quality and more cars on the roads, combined with increased waste, overcrowding and unchecked development on green land, are putting an impossible strain on local infrastructures and the natural world.

“In my response to the Regional Economic Strategy for the South East of England, Living in the South East (2), in 2007 I made the case for a greener and more equitable region where well being, health, the environment and community cohesion are valued alongside economic growth.

“I hope that this report will force the local authorities to accept that the South East is overheating and that the Government’s failure to sustainably regenerate the other UK regions is detrimental to the whole of the UK.

Dr Lucas concluded: “Developmental policy frameworks must be put in place to ensure that the South East does not continue to suffer the consequences of acting as an economic engine for the entire country.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1) The Monitoring Report 2007 is the sixth annual monitoring report produced by the Regional Assembly.

2) Living in the South East builds on previous work Caroline has done on housing in the region and a report called Save the South East - Relocalise Britain.