Trust in land use 'hypocrisy' row

Sir William expressed fears about the future of green belts

The National Trust has been accused of hypocrisy by campaigners against a housing development after its chairman criticised green belt developments.

Sir William Proby said the countryside was losing its redeeming and restorative qualities "inch by inch".

But his comments angered a protest group, opposed to the trust's sale of non-green belt land at Erddig estate near Wrexham for 223 new planned homes.

The trust said the Erddig plans were "consistent" with Sir William's call.

In a speech to the trust's annual general meeting in London on Saturday, Sir William said the organisation would fight the UK government to protect the countryside from housing development.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to build three million more homes by 2020 to tackle the housing crisis.

The government has said extra housing is needed to ease shortages, and it can be built while protecting the green belt.

"Obsession"

But Sir William claimed some 10,000 acres of the green belt was at risk, which he said was "terrifying".

He claimed plans to build more homes were driven by ministers' "obsession with economic growth".

His comments, however, have angered campaigners who are opposed to a plan to sell land at the Erddig estate and 18th Century country house in Wrexham.

The National Trust has said it needs to sell the land - which is not designated green belt - to raise money for Erddig's upkeep, and claims local people are in favour of a proposed development to build 223 houses on it.

The trust says money from the development will safeguard the hall

But opponents say the development at Rhostyllen would cause environmental damage and a loss of local identity.

Campaigners claim the development could cause increased traffic, environmental damage, pressure on services and loss of local identity.

They also claim Sir William's comments contradicted the trust's policy at Erddig.

Tara Green, secretary of the Rhostyllen Residents' Committee, said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard what he said.

"They are complete hypocrites.

"He is either not aware of what the National Trust are doing up here, or it means this now applies to all National Trust properties."

She added: "I hope we can use this against them, and put an end to it once and for all."

Last week, campaigners staged a protest over the development outside the National Trust's offices at Llandudno.

In a statement on Monday, the National Trust said it did "not oppose development per se - including the provision of new housing".

It said Sir William had called for wider debate over how the "economic imperatives of contemporary development" could be "better reconciled with the vital quality of life benefits that a high quality environment provide."

It added: "The Trust believes that its plans to build houses on land at Rhostyllen near Wrexham are entirely consistent with Sir William's wider call."