A SENIOR Conservative county councillor has sparked controversy by calling for a new nuclear power station to be built at Dungeness, claiming local people would not object.

Cllr Roland Tolputt, who represents Folkestone, claimed on a Conservative party website that Romney Marsh folk would support a new power station.

He has retracted and says the article would be withdrawn. He said: "The article should not have appeared. It should not have been published until I had time to speak to people on Romney Marsh and to consult with their county councillor.

"I don't know what the views of people are about nuclear power. I should have consulted them and I haven't."

The website statement said: "Dungeness provides much-needed employment on the Romney Marsh and the area should have a new power station to replace the two existing. I do not think the majority of locals are likely to object."

Cllr Tolputt said the Government was pushing windfarms because it had been "hijacked by small minority groups the Green and anti-nuclear lobby".

His remarks prompted an angry response from environmentalists. Green party spokesman Steve Dawe said: "He has no basis for saying that people would not object. Public support for nuclear power has always been low."

Mayor of Lydd and power station committee member Chris Albrow said opinion in the town was divided.