A WORCESTER city councillor has been likened to 1960s firebrand Enoch Powell for criticising plans for affordable homes in Warndon Villages.

Coun Martin Clarke told the policy and resources committee he was concerned at proposals for 152 homes at Trotshill and Huxley.

The council has taken out an option agreement and the committee voted last night to give officers the go-ahead to buy the land.

Coun Clarke, who represents Warndon and Warndon Villages, said he appreciated the need for affordable homes.

"One resident in old Warndon was in tears as he told me he was waiting to move from a flat there," he said.

"But residents in Warndon Villages have been shown scant regard. Putting social housing in an area of private housing creates tension."

He told the meeting he was particularly unhappy about plans to build at Huxley, in the middle of the Villages.

"The land there could have been allocated for playing fields," he said.

The committee chairman, Coun Robert Rowden, called for order as an angry Coun David Bannister confronted Coun Clarke.

"This comes damn close to Enoch Powell and his 'rivers of blood' speech," said Coun Bannister.

"Your phrase about tension is saying 'we don't want them here'."

Coun Clarke claimed the problem was poor planning, saying he meant it would be too late for the newcomers to fit into the established community.

Stuart McNidder, the director of technical services, promised that in future his department would put pressure on developers to build affordable homes.

"The present situation has been caused by a lack of funds for councils to build homes," said Mr McNidder.

He said the homes at Huxley had been suggested because people on lower incomes often lacked transport and should be at the "heart" of the community.