A TORY councillor has defended plans to hold surgeries exclusively for gay and lesbian constituents.

It follows an announcement on the Greenwich Conservatives' website three of the borough's 13 Conservative councillors will hold the additional surgeries as part of an outreach programme.

But the initiative by councillors Chris Taylor, Nigel Fletcher and Andy Jennings has sparked a war of words.

The proposals were flagged up on a blogspot by Iain Dale - a renowned political pundit and broadcaster - calling for a debate.

Many of the contributors argued special surgeries were divisive and questioned why the gay community was being singled out as needing special help.

But, defending the move, Cllr Taylor said: "I hold eight general surgeries a month and these surgeries for the gay community will be additional to these.

"This is part of an ongoing process about how we can engage people locally.

"We are also in talks about providing mobile surgeries for the elderly and putting on youth surgeries.

"In the past the Conservatives have been portrayed as sometimes hostile to gay people and issues and I want to dispel such myths and show we are an accepting party."

Cllr Taylor became so angered about the negative responses on the blogspot he posted a reply.

He dismissed criticisms on the site saying the surgeries were patronising and argued the decision to start the meetings was based on feedback from the borough's gay community.

He also wrote a third of Greenwich Conservative councillors "including myself, are gay, yet we have no access to represent or discuss issues relating to gay and lesbians without holding these borough-wide surgeries".

Marguerite McLaughlin, who is director of the Greenwich-based Metro Centre which provides services to the gay and lesbian community, has praised the idea.

She said: "We know from working with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people for 21 years they find it hard to come forward.

"It is important people, such as these councillors, go the extra mile and specialist outreach work is done."

The surgeries will be held on the last Thursday of every month at 74 Westmount Road, Eltham, between 7pm and 8pm.

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