It is all very well for Conservative councillor Mary Mears and MP Simon Kirby to belatedly profess support for protecting the Ovingdean Meadow Vale site from development (The Argus, April 19) but actions speak louder than words.

In January last year, the council voted on the draft City Plan and Coun Mears and her Conservative councillors had the chance to vote with Labour and Green councillors to protect Meadow Vale and to keep it safeguarded. The Conservatives chose to abstain.

Meanwhile, in Parliament, Simon Kirby had voted for the very Government planning policies that allow sites such as Meadow Vale, and several others like it around the fringes of the city, to be developed.

The policy has been dubbed a “developers’ charter” by national newspapers and conservation groups.

Labour councillors successfully moved amendments to the council’s City Plan that sought to strengthen the protection of the urban fringe, which is why we were all the more disappointed when the Government-appointed planning inspector asked that all such fringe sites are reviewed for development potential. This makes the council’s plan align more closely with Government policy in favour of development.

Even if the council’s planning committee rejected this application, the developers would almost certainly appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Residents concerned about these development sites want all politicians to work together to help protect them.

It is a pity that the Conservatives have already let them down.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, deputy leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group, Brighton and Hove City Council