A POLITICAL row has erupted after Labour councillors gave permission for a vet's surgery to build on green belt land, overruling planning officers.

Opposition Tory councillors criticised their Labour peers, saying they allowed the vet to move to Wrotham Road, Meopham, to gain votes in the next local election.

Councillors for Meopham North, Don Menzies and Michael Snelling, say the Labour councillors have also undermined the authority of planning officers.

Planners originally refused permission for the vet to build on the site because it is green belt land. But their decision was overruled by councillors who called on a regulatory board to vote on the application. The application was won by six votes to five.

Cllr Menzies said: "This is all about politics. Labour councillors wanted it to go through and there was nothing we could do to stop them. There are more Labour councillors on the regulatory board. The authority of planning officers have been undermined."

Backing up his Conservative partner, Cllr Snelling said the decision was a "misuse of power" and has "massively changed the balance to favour of the applicant".

Northfleet West Labour councillor, Raymond Parker, said: "Due to the number of letters we received in favour of the surgery being on this site, we decided to look into the application. Only the car park is on green belt land and it will be covered in grass.

"I think councillor Snelling is attacking someone's livelihood in an attempt to bash the controlling Labour group to gain votes in the run up to the election. It is a great shame."

The site of the surgery is a six-bedroom residential home. It will have 18 parking spaces and be open from 8.30am until 7.30pm, Monday to Friday. There are facilities for a vet to be available 24 hours a day.

Owner of Meopham veterinary surgery, Martin Hobbs, is on a four-week course and was unavailable for comment.

July 8, 2002 19:00