A SENIOR Worcester Conservative says the county council would never support a great sell-off of Worcestershire's farms - insisting they must stay in public ownership.

Councillor John Campion has warned against any hive off by saying "we should remember why they were bought in the first place".

As your Worcester News revealed last week, the chairman of a powerful County Hall watchdog has sparked fury by suggesting an investigation should be launched over selling some of the council's 95 farms or smallholdings.

Councillor Richard Udall, chairman of the overview, scrutiny and performance board, produced a raft of recommendations for the Tory cabinet with that one included, before agreeing to scrap it.

Cllr Udall has since said the initial suggestion was not his, but it led to bitter disagreement during a meeting of the board before it was shelved.

The county's 95 sites cover 3,300 acres of land and range from small plots of land to larger farms, bringing in rental income worth £300,000 a year.

They were originally bought to give returning first world war soldiers a route into agriculture.

Cllr Campion, cabinet member for transformation and change, said: "This administration or this council has no policy in wanting to sell off its farms and smallholdings estate.

"We actively manage it and receive a very good rate of return which is far in excess of the rate currently offered on our capital investments - but for me, far more importantly we're able to support the rural community.

"We must also remember why these sites were bought in the first place, which was to support those returning from the first world war.

"I wouldn't want to give anybody uncertainty, we have a good track record of managing the estate and will do that not only for the good of the people who use them but the wider taxpayers we represent."

His intervention is the first time a member of the Conservative leadership has publicly ruled out the prospect since the furore.

As we revealed last week Tory Councillor Rob Adams, an active farmer and county councillor, called the suggestion "selling the family silver".

Cllr Udall has defended the original proposal by saying it was discussed among seven councillors privately at first and only one, Tory Kit Taylor, voiced concerns prior to it getting a public airing.

He also maintains the idea would never have reached the stage of being debated at the main board in public unless it was talked out by more people initially behind-closed-doors.

Over the last 15 years the council has sold 54 smallholdings to long-standing tenants, but the general policy is to keep them in-house.