Multimillion pound plans to improve parks across Kingston were approved amidst a political row over favouritism of Conservative-run wards.

Councillors voted to push through the parks and pavements improvements project as part of the borough’s 2017/18 budget, but opposing Liberal Democrats claimed the legislation was “undemocratic” and unsuccessfully moved to amend it.  

Concerns were first raised when community campaigner James Giles published an online blog highlighting that the majority of parks chosen for improvements are almost wholly represented by Tories.

Residents will take to the polls in May next year in council elections across the capital, with Liberal Democrat politicians saying the move was a political attempt to swing marginal wards.

The Conservative-run council denied the allegations at a meeting at the Guildhall last night.

Leader of the Lib Dems Liz Green said: “I think it’s shameful you haven’t asked any residents. You don’t ask anyone because you just wanted this for yourselves. You’ve done this to be political.

“These will be ready in a year to 18 months’ time. In a years’ time we will be allowed three months out for the election and I think it’s in the wards you feel less safe.”

The major parks and areas earmarked for improvement works include Blagdon Road park, the Fairfield and a series of playgrounds across Kingston.

In total £1m will be spent of improving parks and £1m on pavements.

A Lib Dem amendment to plans calling for more consultation on the areas was voted down by councillors by 24 to 19 votes.

Plans to push through a council tax rise of 5 per cent were also approved

Phil Doyle said: “What I’m surprised at is that their premise for this appears to be based on the idea that what this administration should be doing with council taxpayers’ money is separating it evenly across the borough.

“That is not our aim. The aim and the outcome of this exercise was to spend this money where it is needed after 12 years of neglect by the Liberal Democrats.

Hilary Gander said: “It was not only undemocratic but it was also quite foolish because it does just look very political.

“Residents are not stupid and they will not particularly thank you for not looking at the wards were you don’t happen to have a Conservative councillor.”