SOUTH Swindon's Conservative Candidate has criticised the Government over proposed housing development at Coate.

In a newsletter delivered to Dorcan residents Robert Buckland condemned Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and criticised the exclusion of Swindon Borough councillors from the decision-making process.

"Labour's Stalinist central control of planning is undemocratic and unfair to local residents," he said.

"The Government's decision to allow housing development at Coate without any firm news about the university is the worst of all worlds."