TRAFFORD'S Labour group has voiced its concerns over plans to build on the Green Belt.

The borough is aiming to build 23,000 new homes by 2035, and although it is pursuing a 'brownfield site first' strategy some Green Belt areas will be affected.

These are the Timperley Wedge, land at Flixton Station and pockets of land at a major development at Carrington.

Councillor Andrew Western, the leader of Trafford Labour Group, said: "It is clear that quite drastic action is required to meet the borough's housing needs in the future, and the Spatial Framework reflects that.

"The Labour Group is very much aware of the need to build additional housing stock, and we are supportive of additional house building.

"However, this does not mean that green space in the middle of towns which form a central part of the green infrastructure for that neighbourhood should be built on.

"It's outrageous that this public space should be sacrificed when developers have been allowed to sit on brownfield sites for years.”