The Government's mission to kickstart the economy with widespread house-building on the west's greenfield sites is raising hackles among Tories in Bath.
The Tory group on B&NES Council has written to Conservative ministers who have suggested green fields are built on to call for protection of the Green Belt around much of their area.
Tory group leader Councillor Francine Haeberling has written to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Planning Minister Nick Boles, whose comments about the need for house building sparked controversy, to appeal for the Green Belt around Bath and Keynsham to be protected.
She said the council was "being pressed" by the Government into delivering a "level of new house building which is not sustainable", even though new homes are needed.
The letter said: "We need reassurance from ministers that planning decisions should be taken locally and that the council has the freedom to agree upon development plans which are right for our area. Conservative councillors will continue to press the need for a brownfield-first development policy."
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