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At least Labour has been consistent over Chrismas Lodge and surrounding woodland namely that the site should be turned into a community land trust and the surrounding woodland incorporated into the existing Brickfields nature park.

However, now that we learn that Hampshire Tories have decided to sell it locally for a million then it is clear that this tranquil area will in future become yet another estate where developers make money and the community suffers.

However, nationally the Tories support community land trusts, a most socialist model that has worked well for over 100 years, so it has a track record of success. But when the crunch comes it’s not for them.

As for the Liberal Democrats, there is no policy there except a negative one of being against knowing that, viewed by Adrian Collett from the eyrie in Yateley, this site was down to be disposed of come what may by the Tory council.

What we must have is what parties really stand for rather than when they are against and this would have been an example for Rushmoor Tories to have committed themselves and their Liberal Democrat colleagues to have come off the fence but silence for one and lack of decision-making for the other.

Coun Mike Roberts, deputy leader Rushmoor Council Labour Group