Former mayor calls on MPs to support new 2050 strategy to double the size of Milton Keynes

The new 2050 Strategy lays out how MK will be in 50 years' time in terms of development, jobs and achievements. It aims to double the population to 500,000 by then.

The plan caused a split at last night's Milton Keynes council meeting, with some local Conservatives backing it and some opposing it, saying the growth is too excessive - particularly in rural areas.

Veteran Liberal Democrat Sam Crooks is now calling for unification.

"It's a tragedy" he said. "We need a united council to attract investment into the city and to build enough houses for our children."

Sam oversaw Milton Keynes' first Strategy for the future in 1988 to 1989. "We called it our MK2K Vision" he said. "The Conservatives fully supported it then and MP William Benyon attended its launch which was nationally televised"

"It was hugely ambitious - we took over much of the work of the old city Development Corporation rather than see it go elsewhere. We started the process of becoming a unitary authority. And we sealed a partnership with business which led to the Chamber of Commerce's report Greater Milton Keynes."

"Thirty years later we aim to become the centre of the Government's planned Oxford - Cambridge arc, Britain's Silicon Valley. I plead with our MPs to support the Council's ambition for our future."

Extensive public engagement helped shaped the final version of the Strategy for 2050, which was adopted by Council on Wednesday 20 January.