Mr Shapps spent three hours talking to villagers about their campaign to stop the 5,000 home development. He described the work of the Communities Against Ford Eco-Town group, parish councils and their MPs as extremely well organised. "Everyone is saying the same thing about this site," he said, "and that is that any development of it would be totally inappropriate." But he warned campaigners they would have a tough time convincing a government determined to see millions of new homes built in the next few years of their concerns. "No one in the government really cares what you think. You can come out with as many first class and excellent arguments as you like. "No minister is interested in you. You had a housing minister come here, talk to you and then still call you Nimbys," he commented. He promised a Conservative government would scrap plans for the eco-towns and put planning powers back in the hands of communities. He said: "It's no good sitting in a cosy office in Whitehall thinking you know best where 5,000 homes should be built. A Conservative government would not ride roughshod over people like that. We would scrap all the top down, almost Stalinist, planning policies of this government. "People want to decide where the homes should go. They know where the most appropriate sites are." Mr Shapps's visit came as housing minister Margaret Beckett is expected to announce the final shortlist of eco-town sites in the next two months. Just over six months ago, the government's then housing minister, Caroline Flint, spent a short time in Yapton and Ford. Most of her visit was conducted behind closed doors but she emerged to say that homes needed to be built whatever villagers might say. Mr Shapps, in contrast, spent most of his time welcoming the media in to his discussions. His first call was to meet CAFE members before he made an extensive tour of the area. He then met about 20 representatives of parish, district and county councils at Yapton Village Hall for a presentation by CAFE and a question and answer session. He was accompanied by MPs Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) and Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton). Mr Herbert said: "We are delighted that Grant has found the time to come down here, take an extensive look round and then listen to local people rather than preach at them. His message of respecting local decision making for planning is most welcome." CAFE co-chairman Vicky Newman stated: "We have got our message across clearly to Mr Shapps. We want him to take that message back to Westminster and make it very clear that the eco-town process is severely flawed, especially in Ford. "It is totally the wrong location.It should not be considered for large-scale development until all the issues such as the A27 and the need for hospitals and schools, have been solved." Cllr Ron Field, the chairman of Ford Parish Council, was also in positive mood at the end of the day. "Mr Shapps has listened to us, unlike Caroline Flint. "Building an eco-town at Ford is such a completely inappropriate use of the land. I just can't believe anyone would have so little sense to do that. "Putting 5,000 homes there - 2,000 of them affordable - and 4,000 jobs. It's just pie in the sky stuff." What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below. Click here to go back to Chichester news Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map. MAP .