LOCAL MP James Arbuthnot challenged the prime minister on Wednesday, asking the government to provide the necessary infrastructure before continuing with plans for massive house building across the South East. Mr Arbuthnot said: "We all accept the need for some new affordable housing, especially in our area, where young families and key workers struggle to get a foothold on the housing ladder. "But the government's plans for massive house building in the South East are placing an intolerable strain on local infrastructure, and particularly so in north east Hampshire. "We desperately need improvement to our water supplies, transport infrastructure, schools, healthcare and community facilities. "The current infrastructure deficit for our area amounts to £1.5 billion and another 1.5 billion is needed in order to cope with the projected increase in house building. "The government has to accept that infrastructure should come before development so that communities can evolve organically and not by the direction of the deputy prime minister.
