A Conservative-led campaign against a proposal to allow high density housing in Wanstead and Woodford has been dismissed as “gesture politics”, by the Labour leader of Redbridge council.

Tory councillors launched the ‘Save Our Suburbs’ campaign on Saturday in High Street, Wanstead.

They are opposed to an option, included in the Local Development Framework Plan for 2015-30 with three others, that could see housing density quadruple in certain 'corridors'.

It was agreed by cabinet that the four options would go out for public consultation.

But the Tories branded the proposal a threat to the community, with the possibility of high rise developments in traditionally suburban areas.

But Labour Cllr Jas Athwal claimed there was cross-party agreement on the proposal and branded the campaign hypocritical.

He said: "I'm gobsmacked at the hypocrisy of the Conservatives, particularly those councillors now turning up to oppose a site they voted to put out to consultation, not once but twice.

“These options were agreed on a cross-party basis and this is too important for stunts and gesture politics.

“If the Conservative councillors concerned felt so strongly about this, they should've spoken up in committee when they had the chance. The Liberal Democrats, to their credit, did so. 

"I really have no problem with ward councillors from any party speaking up for their residents in their local ward, but for the wider Conservative Party to grandstand like this is deeply disappointing.

“Behaviour like this - saying one thing in a committee and another to the public - gives politics but politicians in particular a bad name." 

Other plans being considered are to build on Oakfield playing fields in Ilford or on "parcels" of the green belt.