A CITY planner has hit out at council politics, claiming that true consultation is needed with the public to decide the future of Worcester.

Speaking during a planning committee meeting, councillor Mike Layland, questioned the value of the current consultation process as developers and planners can ignore residents' suggestions.

He said: "I'm all in favour of consultation and questionnaires but what we must make clear at the end of the day is that the public can desire, but we can still choose to ignore them completely.

"Will their interest and ideas and suggestions all be ignored because it's not in keeping with what the developer or owners of the land would like?

"True consultation is listening and acting on the information. It would be nice to say we are doing that."

Other councillors scoffed at Independent Coun Layland, however, he replied: "I respect the people, not politics. This is an important issue."

Labour councillor Bob Peachey, immediately hit back, saying: "Consultation is a very difficult process.

"Fifty people might say A and 50 others might say B. Then pressure groups come in and hi-jack the ideas and it all becomes very difficult.

"Listening to the people does have its place but the results are by no means easy."

The row came just minutes after planning committee chairman Robert Rowden said that he saw just one member of the public attend a public consultation open day in St Peter's, on Thursday morning.

The event was to take in people's views on major changes to Worcester's housing, sports facilities, recreation and open spaces and the development at Earl's Court Farm.

The planning committee on Thursday agreed to add public consultation on future plans for the city centre to the list.