COUNCILLORS have clashed over whether new Government guidance which steps up the protection of Green Belts from development might jeopardise York's proposed Local Plan.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has underlined the Government’s commitment to protect green belts, saying thousands of brownfield sites are available and should be prioritised.

He said the new guidance reaffirmed that councils should use their Local Plan to safeguard their local area against urban sprawl, and protect the green lungs around towns and cities.

But councillors are divided on party lines as to whether the guidance will impact on the controversial Green Belt proposals of Labour-controlled City of York Council.

Liberal Democrat Nigel Ayre tweeted: "Could it get any worse for York Labour's flawed local plan?" and his group leader Keith Aspden said the guidance was clear, and he hoped Labour would listen to what the Government was saying.

"Councils should meet their housing needs by prioritising brownfield sites and housing need does not justify inappropriate development in the Green Belt," he said, claiming Labour in York was not following this advice.

Tory group leader Chris Steward claimed the guidance was 'another nail in the coffin' for the Local Plan, and could affect the council's attempts to get major new developments such as Whinthorpe, near Heslington, past a planning inspector.

But Labour's Cabinet member for planning, Cllr Dave Merrett, said the council was prioritising brownfield site allocations first in the proposed Local Plan, so long as they passed Government viability and deliverability tests.

And he said: “I understand this pre-election announcement from Conservative Ministers should not impact York’s Local Plan process as it applies to defined Green Belts, which is not applicable in our case.

"York’s inner green belt boundaries have yet to be legally defined, but will be if our Local Plan is adopted."