AN OPPOSITION party leader is pushing the council to recruit more planning staff.

Councillor David McBride says he is worried there are not enough staff members to cope with the number of planning applications received.

The Liberal Democrat leader believes Bromley could end up with buildings different from those which have been given permission if planning enforcement officers are not available to keep an eye on developers.

Speaking at Monday's full council meeting Cllr McBride said: "Bromley has a high number of conservation areas which need protecting and there will soon be large projects such as Tesco in Orpington which will need watching."

Development control committee chairman Councillor Gordon Jenkins replied: "I'm aware of the situation in the planning department and have already had two meetings with the chief planning officer."