TORY district councillors should be surcharged if an independent panel finds they agreed to sell a valuable plot of land in Bromsgrove too cheaply, it was claimed this week.

In July, at a behind closed doors meeting, the Tory-controlled council voted to sell land at Aston Road to a waste reclamation firm for a figure said to be a little more than £100,000.

Labour councillors claim it is worth much more and their plea at a subsequent meeting for it to go out to tender was turned down by the Conservatives in a named vote.

Labour leader Cllr Pete McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) said after the story appeared in the Advertiser/Messenger he was approached by a prominent Bromsgrove businessman.

He said the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was angry that the council had not offered the land to him despite knowing he was keen to buy it.

Cllr McDonald said: "In view of this I will ask the September meeting of the policy and resources committee to set up an all-party scrutiny committee to examine the sale."

"If it's found the land is worth more, I believe councillors who voted for the sale should be surcharged for their ignorance and naivety."

Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) claims the value is greatly diminished because of overhead power lines crossing the land.

He said: "Any new purchaser who might want to build on the land will need to divert the power lines at a cost in excess of £250,000.

"Our consciences are clear, I know we have done the right thing.

"If Cllr McDonald wants to proceed with surcharge accusations, he can go ahead."