THE leader of Trafford's Labour group has pledged to scrap plans to build on green belt land in Flixton if his party gains control of the council.

Cllr Andy Western says that if he becomes council leader the controversial scheme "would be scrapped in full on day one."

He spelt out his group's stance in a post on the Save Flixton Green Belt Facebook site.

He gave his views after learning that the leader of the council and of the ruling Conservative group, Sean Anstee, and council officers had met Flixton residents and told them they were looking to reduce the number of homes to be built on the William Wroe Golf course from 750 to 375.

Mr Western said in his post: "We wish to make clear the continued opposition of Trafford Labour Party to any proposals that include plans to build homes on green belt land in Flixton.

"This has been our position from the outset and that position has not changed simply because Sean Anstee has moved to water down his initial outrageous and unsuitable proposals.

"The residents of Flixton have made clear that any build on this land would be totally unacceptable and this is a view that we wholeheartedly share."

He continued: "If I were leading the council these plans would be scrapped in full on day one.

"Anstee has shown that there is room for manoeuvre and now we must increase the pressure to ensure that instead of halving house building on William Wroe, we scrap house building on William Wroe once and for all."

The Labour group has put forward a motion to full council on Wednesday, November 29, calling on the Conservative group "to review their proposals again and to withdraw their support for any and all house building on Flixton’s green belt.”