I READ with interest a recent letter from Conservative councillor Joe Watt (Housing issue, August 1).

Despite Conservative councillors appearing in The Press on a regular basis against housing developments, he says his party supports more housing. He says Conservatives “now support house building on a scale not too far off what was in Labour’s 2011 council manifesto”.

This is 800 homes a year which was rejected by the planning inspector – a figure higher than Liberal Democrat proposals for 575 homes a year. Since this time York’s need for homes has increased and therefore the number of homes that need building has also been increased.

At a meeting of full council on June 30, 2011 all councillors were given the opportunity to vote for 800 homes a year; Cllr Watt and his party voted against.

The Conservative leader at the time said his party were against 800 homes a year as “the green belt will be at risk”. I welcome this Conservative U-turn, but the people of York would be interested to know which greenbelt sites the Conservatives now back for development as stated by the former Conservative Leader.

Councillor James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council.