The Conservative party is hiding its two-faced approach towards new housing in Whitfield behind weak attacks on Lib Dem councillors. The Conservative parliamentary candidate, Charlie Elphicke, says he opposes the mass housing development in Whitfield that his party's elected councillors advocate.
Dover's Conservative controlled council proposes 6,000 new houses for Whitfield. Whitfield's Lib Dem councillors on Dover District Council, Peter Lodge and Clive Meredith, campaigned against new housing on such a vast scale in Whitfield - sharing the view of most of Whitfield's residents that this was wholly inappropriate for the area.
Labour and the Conservatives have ducked the issue. Clive Meredith attended four large public meetings held in Whitfield and spoke out against the plans but the Conservatives and Labour, although invited rarely bothered to attend.
Clive and Peter have campaigned tirelessly. Clive submitted a lengthy paper during the initial consultation period setting out his objections on behalf of Whitfield's residents to the proposals. They have kept residents informed through letters to the press, in their regular column in the Whitfield News, and in Whitfield Focus, the councillors' newsletter to residents.
"Peter and I supported and signed the joint Whitfield Parish Council and Whitfield Action Group (WAG) document which was submitted to the Planning Inspector who held public hearings in October to assess the Core Strategy contained in the Local Development Framework document," said Clive Meredith.
"We persuaded the Dover and Deal Liberal Democrats to adopt a policy against this development and arranged funding of an awareness campaign in other parts of the Dover District drawing attention to the threat of excessive housing in our area," said Clive.
"It might suit developers to take green field sites and build thousands of new houses on one plot but it is not what is best for residents. Every effort should be made to use brownfield sites first. Any greenfield development should be limited and should only take place with the consent of the appropriate local community," he said.
"Peter and I will continue to fight for the interests of Whitfield's residents who trusted us with their vote to represent them."
"Those who chose to misrepresent our position, for narrow political advantage, only undermine the serious nature of this issue and do a disservice to the people of Whitfield and other areas in our district, such as Deal and Sholden, said Clive.
Dover District Council has plans for about 1,000 houses for Sholden, 6000 for Whitfield and 3,000 spread across the district. The Planning Inspector's report on the new housing proposals is expected by the end of January 2010.
• Cllr Clive Meredith is leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Dover District Council.