The leader of a borough council has accused a developer of holding a community to ransom over its failure to deliver on promises made when it submitted its planning application.

Cllr Matt Boughton (Con), leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, has written an open letter to Richard Hall, the CEO for Trenport, over the firm's failure to facilitate the building of a medical centre at its Peters Village development at Wouldham, six years after construction there first began.

Cllr Boughton said: "A couple of months ago, Tracey Crouch, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, and I met with NHS Kent and Medway about the need for a new GP practice to open at Peters Village.

"Subsequently the NHS met with Trenport to try to encourage them to accelerate delivery of the long-promised surgery, which was earmarked to be opposite the new Co-op.

"During this meeting Trenport made it clear that any development of the medical centre would be is dependent on their 'outstanding planning matters’ being 'concluded satisfactorily.'"

Cllr Boughton said this was a reference to Trenport's latest planning application for 950 homes at nearby Bushey Wood at Eccles being approved.

Cllr Boughton said: "It is appalling that Trenport is holding residents in Eccles, Burham, Peters Village and Wouldham to ransom over their wish for further development, impacting on the ability of anyone in these villages being able to access a GP.”

"My thoughts are with everyone struggling to get a GP appointment, especially since the local practice has closed its list to new patients.

"The existing surgeries at Burham and Eccles cannot cope on their own."

Tonbridge and Malling council is due to consider the Bushey Wood application on Thursday, June 8, but Trenport has already lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate for 'non-determination.'

In his letter to Trenport, Cllr Boughton told Mr Hall that the firm's behaviour was "incredibly disappointing" and said a medical centre “must be delivered."

Trenport has been asked for comment