LANDLORD Dave Wells has ignited a political row by writing to more than 600 tenants urging them to vote Conservative.

The housing boss sent out a letter with Tory literature in the Boscombe East and West wards.

He said his favoured candidates shared his concern that too many drug rehabilitation centres were being concentrated in Boscombe.

“One of these local candidates already sits on the planning committee and doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with the decisions being made and the changes in policies,” he wrote.

He said it would be a “positive way forward” for the regeneration of Boscombe if his favoured candidates were all on the planning board.

He is also offering his tenants lifts to the polling stations.

Bournemouth council said yesterday that any councillors endorsed by Mr Wells would in future have to abstain from voting on his planning applications if they served on the planning committee.

Conservative Cllr Linda Bailey, who is standing for re-election in Boscombe East, said Mr Wells had offered to help after she had trouble delivering leaflets to housing blocks in some parts of her ward.

“He said ‘I don’t mind if you want us to stick a few leaflets in their doors when staff are going around’,” she said.

She said she had not known the leaflets would go out with a letter from Mr Wells but said: “It’s very nice of him to support the Conservatives.”

She insisted his support would not influence her vote if she remained on the planning board.

A spokeswoman for the Independent group of candidates said: “It’s a strange thing to do. It’s putting the people he’s mentioned in a very difficult position.”

A Liberal Democrat spokeswoman said: “I think it’s very disappointing and potentially very irresponsible.”

A Labour figure said he was “very concerned”.

“It smacks of the old system where the country landlord used to get all his people to support him,” he said.

Dave Wells said in a statement: “Our business has been in Boscombe for more than 40 years and I care deeply about the area.

“During that time, I have witnessed first-hand the efforts certain councillors make to regenerate Boscombe and I have no qualms in ensuring our tenants are aware of our work.

“There’s nothing to stop councillors from other political parties from knocking on our tenants’ doors to rally support.

“Whatever party residents choose to support, it is vital that we do everything possible to reduce voter apathy. That’s why we were offering transport to help our Boscombe tenants to reach the polling stations.”

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