A councillor has blasted “false claims” which he says are misleading many people about the new development blueprint for Epping Forest.

Councillor John Philip said he is shocked to hear widespread confusion after the publishing of the 260 page draft Local Plan.

A public consultation on the plan, which could see 11,400 new homes built up to 2033, runs until December 12.

In a surprise step, Cllr Philip took to the Epping Forest District Council website to “myth bust” misconceptions around the plan.

He said: “Nowhere does it say we are building all over the green belt or taking away all our open spaces.

“Anyone suggesting we are must have fundamentally misunderstood the plan.”

Common misconceptions include people thinking all of the new homes will be council properties and that the council wants to build tower blocks, Cllr Philip said.

However, he said the “vast majority” of new homes will be built by private developers and tower blocks are “not on the table”.

This is despite his claims that the council aims to save parking spaces in the district by potentially building multi-storey blocks above car parks.

He said other misconceptions, all not true, include: the council has no plans for extra infrastructure; the council wants to “do away” with the green belt and open spaces; Essex County Council must approve the plan; green belt fields become brown field land when they are ploughed.

“These are just a few of the things we have heard.

“It is therefore all the more important that people fact check on the official website.

“This is a real consultation.

“It’s a two-way conversation and we are listening.”

He added: “Some people have told me I’ve already made up my mind and the draft plan is set in stone.

“It is not.”

Cllr Philip’s intervention ahead of the consultation’s end has been criticised by some.

Mark Hickey, 63, of Mowbrey Gardens in Loughton called it “crass, patronising, arrogant and insulting.”

He added that publishing a lengthy document and expecting in-depth understanding from members of the public in a relatively short time is “contrary to common sense”.

Campaigner Paul Morris has organised public meetings on the plan to help people understand and respond to the information it contains.

He said: “It is very hard to follow… you really struggle to get the key points out of it.

“If there is any confusion, maybe they should have made it easier to read.”

Referring to Cllr Philip, he added: “He was elected to represent the people, not elected to represent the council to the people.”

A public meeting is being held on the Local Plan tonight (November 17) at the Murray Hall in Borders Lane, Loughton, from 7.30pm.