AN ENVIRONMENTAL group has criticised the deputy Prime Minister for overdeveloping land in the south east.

Last year John Prescott launched the Land Restoration Trust, which aims to transform derelict, neglected or under-used brownfield land into open green spaces for the benefit of the community.

Areas of the Thames Gateway are included in the improvements which will take place over the next 10 years.

But Hands off Kent campaigners claim the Trust, which is currently working on projects in the north of England, is putting the north first, while the south is being overcrowded with housing developments.

Hands off Kent co-founder Ann Parker said: "It seems the north is getting the niceties and the south of England is getting crammed with people and homes. Why has everybody got to come to the south?

"It is time the people of Kent made it clear they are fed up with paying higher council tax to subsidise the north, while at the same time having their communities and health damaged by excessive development.

"We don't want to see any building on green sites. They should be working to save the countryside or we won't have any countryside."

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister pointed to the fact there is a shortage of affordable homes in the south east, especially for key workers, and there is a lot of brownfield land in the Gateway.

She said: "Our policy is always to build on brownfield land first, then green sites and as a last resort, green belt land.

"The Land Restoration Trust is very focused on green space in the Gateway."